Terrazzo Project, Design by Philippe-Albert Lefebvre & Stephane Halmaï-Voisard for Toolsgalerie, 2013.

The Terrazzo Project (TP) is a joint undertaking initiated in 2011 by Lausanne-based industrial designers Stéphane Halmaï-Voisard and Philippe-Albert Lefebvre. A search for lasting, stylish substances moved them to reclaim a cherished yet antiquated material, Terrazzo, to adapt it to the demanding requirements of modern day, contemporary design.

Terrazzo is a composite material produced from layers of cement interspersed by chips of glass, marble, quartz, granite or other appropriate material. The invention of Terrazzo can be traced to the 15th century when Venetian Artisans started to exploit construction residues to make highly resistant, low-cost surfaces principally used in flooring. Although Terrazzo is a recognizable material, its name and production techniques remain largely exotic and it is often assimilated with concrete. After probing further, Stephane and Philippe-Albert discovered that the last remaining authentic specialists are active in the Venetian area. The scarcity of true artisans accentuated their conviction in the pertinence of their effort and in their travels, they were fortunate to find a family enterprise that understood and embraced the promise of their project.

The result of two years of intensive material research and testing is a furniture collection including a series of tables and a suspended tube lamp built from slim, sturdy and lightweight terrazzo pieces. TP uses a special terrazzo blend composed of glass fibers and foam cores that allows for very thin profiles.