If you go to a room with a terrazzo floor, an immediate energy shift changes. You can feel the famous past. You can see it in the fragments, the remains of terracotta and even recycled glass. Where other materials hide its history, Terrazzo celebrates them. And architects and homeowners finally rethink what it means to live with materials that make the duration and beauty out of what we would otherwise throw away.
Rammed Earth houses draw attention to their ability to transform the raw earth into thermal mass walls that have existed for centuries. Rice scales become more popular as a wooden alternative from agricultural waste. And regained wood and vintage stone become the definition of the timeless style, precisely because they are open to their imperfections. Therefore, Terrazzo sits conveniently in this family of circular materials, a centuries -old practice that feels more relevant for every sustainability discussion.
(Jonathon Griggs/Eco Outdoor)
Eco Outdoor, an Australly founded company, whose innovative terrazzo range continues to drive the narrative of Circular Design. In a conversation with the La Times Studios, Ben Kerr, CEO and product innovator for products at Eco Outdoor, the permanent attraction of terrazzos technical development and why this centuries -old material suddenly is one of the most relevant options for modern design.
“At Eco Outdoor we celebrate the beauty in imperfection,” said Kerr when we were asked how Eco Outdoor Terrazzo used to present circular design in residential projects. “As such, we design materials with uniquely different perspectives. Our 'Terrazzo range was the beginning of our Terrazzo story. In this collection we use the offcuts or' unpopular 'parts of expensive and extremely desirable materials to create new floors.
This philosophy is not only poetic, but also practical. The stone industry produces millions of tons of waste every year. Much of it is a perfect solid material, but often not the “right” dimension. In situ from Eco Outdoor, this irregularity includes.
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The result is floors that are both visually fascinating and ethically resonant. Each tile has a little victory against waste and reminds homeowners that responsible design does not have to be strict.
Eco Outdoor describes the use of Terrazzo as “raw in the finish, modular in format and for open life”. This modularity makes it particularly versatile. In a world in which seamless inner and outdoor life becomes a gold standard. From kitchens that flow on patos to living rooms that open directly in gardens …. Terrazzo's ability to run fluently over threshold values offers it a clear advantage. Its durability means that it can master the weather outside and at the same time provides Polish interiors.
When homeowners ask how to include Terrazzo in a renovation, Kerr suggests to think.
“Terrazzo is a top choice for homeowners who want to give a design statement. Usually in the form of large gestures such as floor. The manufacturers often send products for large-scale house projects in boxes and reduce the amount of material that are left out of the production process, and use unpopular materials to create a dent of the problem.
Terrazzo and the development of the circular design
This is not a terrazzo as a temporary accent. This is Terrazzo as an architectural anchor. Think of floors, stairs and expansive worktops. Surfaces on which the resilience and the monolithic pattern of the material can really shine.
(Jonathon Griggs/ Eco Outdoor)
In particular, the floors make sense from the perspective of longevity. A single, well-installed terrazzo floor can easily keep the life of the building. Compare this with synthetic alternatives that are replaced every decade and the case for the sustainability of terrazzos. It is a “forever” soil.
Terrazzo is the original circular material in many ways. Its history extends to the Venetian workers from the 15th century, embedding marble waste into a lime or tons. An affordable solution that arose from ingenuity. (They even used goat milk as the first seal that released the color of the stone). The principle is unchanged five hundred years later: transform fragments into some cohesive.
But the modern turn is all about innovations in the binder and the unit. Early Terrazzo was cement table, but today's high -performance versions often use epoxy resin binders that are more durable and offer a wider color palette. And the unit is no longer just marble. We are now seeing recycled glass, recovered stone, pearl mother and even industrial by -products. The approach of Eco Outdoor reflects this tradition and leans into contemporary aesthetics. They mix Terrazzo with natural stone and terracotta to create pallets that feel both old and fresh.
“Terrazzo is a material that has existed for hundreds of years, but it continues to develop worldwide. Since designers create new applications for the material, the suppliers continue to innovate with raw materials and combine various components to create a little strikingly courageously. Most recently with other media such as natural stone and terracotta, which have a reach of new viktrant and playful colors.
This openness to mix reflects wider design trends. After years of minimalism, people approach materials that bring texture and life into a room. The shift reflects the renewed hug of the recovered decor – where aged wood and famous ceramics are not because they are perfect, but because they feel in the life. Terrazzo with its almost infinite combination of aggregates fits perfectly at the moment.
Where Terrazzo makes the greatest influence
Where does Terrazzo sings the loudest in so many applications? The answer is clear to Kerr.
“The use of Terrazzo in the main entrance of a house gives the owners and their guests a self -confident tone on the first arrival. In contrast to the neutral effect of natural stone materials such as travertine or limestone, Terrazzo is designed to find out, both in color and in the pattern. Bathroom setting.”
The entrance is a threshold. A terrazzo floor there was not only the interlinking of everyday life, but can also share the values of the homeowner. It means that this is a house that celebrates materiality and invests in surfaces to pass.
Bathrooms also become locations with an expressive design. While Stone has long ruled the room, Terrazzo introduces patterns without affecting the elegance. The true kicker is its seamless application, which works beautifully for washbasins and shower walls and creates a clean, monolithic appearance.
The science of power of power
The longevity of terrazzos is legendary. A properly installed floor can take 75 years or more. In contrast to materials that visibly deteriorate, Terrazzo simply acquires character. If necessary, it can be repolated to restore its original shine, a process that can be repeated for decades.
This long life cycle has profound effects on sustainability. In a world of faster conversions, a surface that does not have to be torn down is quietly radical. Holding materials is one of the most effective ways to reduce the embodied carbon of a building. This is the same reason why designers include the walls and rice sharpness of Rammed earth walls and rice shells: materials that not only cut off today, but take it tomorrow.
Part of Terrazzo's stimulus is its ability to bridge epochs. It was a favorite of the Art Deco movement in the 1920s and had a big moment in the middle of the century. Today it feels as comfortable in a contemporary loft. This versatility has made it a darling of designers who want to mix in personality without relying on ornament.
In 2025, Terrazzo also matched the conversation about calm luxury and design, which speaks through material integrity. The aggregates and surfaces can be brave, but they are rooted in durability and authenticity. We see architects who fit it with recovered wood and plaster and create interiors that feel layered and grounded. It is a counterpoint to mass -produced surfaces and the proof that sustainability and style do not only exist side by side. They reinforce each other.
Terrazzo is luxurious, but also recycled and tailor -made. Terrazzo could also be seen as a philosophy. Value what already exists and increase what could be overlooked. Eco Outdoor embodies this, with each piece a little different … every surface lively with variation. This irregularity is part of the attraction, an honest memory that beauty often lies in imperfection.
For Kerr, this is more than a design selection. “By using remaining parts, we give you a new life,” he says. Terrazzo becomes more about a conversation between the past and the present.