Marc Schenker
September 2, 2021 · 14 min read
The History of Terrazzo (and Terrazzo Design)
You may be surprised to learn that this material was first used as early as 9000 to 8000 BC, according to archaeologists, who use the word “Terrazzo” to denote the floors of early-Neolithic structures. The Neolithic is a reference to a period of mankind’s development, particularly in technology, starting at approximately 10,200 BC and lasting until about 4500 to 2000 BC. One Neolithic settlement especially is famous for its Terrazzo floors. Archaeologists have found such features in Cayonu, in eastern Turkey: almost 1000 square feet of Terrazzo have been unearthed there. To say that this design style has quite the history behind it is quite an understatement.

The Characteristics of Terrazzo Design
Whether Terrazzo appears in the floor or as part of a graphic-design creation, this substance’s freewheeling creation process gives way to numerous possibilities and styles. As a result, we get to enjoy a lot of diversity in Terrazzo pieces, but, at the end of the day, they all share, in one way or another, the following qualities:- Speckling
- Dotting
- Textures
- Asymmetry
- Imperfection
- Contrast (colors, shapes, forms, sizes)
- Neutral colors as well as vibrant ones
- Patterning
- Geometric influences (lines, curves, circles, triangles)
- Versatility
Terrazzo in Graphic Design
Because of this versatile substance’s eye-catching designs—both in flooring and walls—it has carried over to this art medium, where graphic designers have taken its features and turned them into digital masterpieces.Terrazzo Patterns
- Art prints
- Flyers
- Posters
- Postcards
- Stationery
- Invites
- Web elements
- Branding kits
- Business cards
- Blog design
- T-shirts
- Fabric prints
- Book covers
Terrazzo/Granito Seamless Patterns
Terrazzo on Social Media
Since social media gets much of its allure from the visual, it’s fitting that this design trend is very popular on different social platforms, particularly those that are exclusively image-based (think Pinterest and Instagram).


Terrazzo in Web Design
This style carries over seamlessly to web design, given its nice textures and patterns. For designers looking to spruce up any webpage, infusing some Terrazzo-inspired designs go a long way toward creating a fresh and unique layout.Summer in the City GIF
From graphic designer and illustrator Ola Jedrzejewska we get a neat motion-graphics creation that celebrates the glory of this speckled style across a variety of summer-based activities.
Cleaning Terrazzo Infographic
Infographics inform and entertain with their digestible bits of knowledge presented in a fluid way. A Terrazzo tile manufacturing company decided to educate its customers with an infographic, using the spotted, speckled beauty of Terrazzo as the background for its infographic.
Terrazzo in Interiors
Last but not least, we have to cover the area where this material started it all: interiors, especially in flooring. You’ll be surprised at how many famous places have some form of this substance inside of them.The John Adams Building
The John Adams Building, named after America’s second president, is actually part of the U.S. Library of Congress, the second-oldest of its four buildings. There are two things that are noteworthy here: 1) Sections of floor are made from Terrazzo, like the 5th floor’s elevator lobby

Louisville International Airport
Look down every once in a while when you get the chance to travel through the Louisville International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky, and you’ll see spectacular Terrazzo designs. They’re so spectacular that they were the recipient of a National Terrazzo and Mosaic Association award this year.
- Smart linear arrangements
- Historical fleur-de-lis
- Circular patterns
- Spheres
- Sunbursts
Bonus: The Hollywood Walk of Fame
Not an interior, per se, but definitely a shining example of a famous landmark of sorts using this flooring pattern to great effect. The Hollywood Walk of Fame is, of course, the stretch of three blocks along Vine Street and another 15 blocks right along Hollywood Boulevard that immortalizes various celebrities’ contributions to pop culture—for better or worse.
Not Just for Floors
A common misconception when one hears the word “Terrazzo” is that it’s only for flooring, but as we’ve shown here, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Thanks to the inroads being made on the web, graphic design, and social media, this design trend is exploding digitally in all the right places. Due to its highly interesting textures that feature unrelenting specks and patterns that are timeless, this material has legitimately been turned into a design style that more and more people are beginning to discover and appreciate. To stay ahead of the curve with this up-and-coming trend, designers shouldn’t be afraid to include Terrazzo and its related sensibilities in their projects. It’s a surefire way to delight clients.Products Seen In This Post:

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Marc Schenker
Marc is a copywriter and marketer who runs The Glorious Company, a marketing agency. An expert in business and marketing, he helps businesses and companies of all sizes get the most bang for their ad bucks.
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