Flooring is a very important element in the décor of your home. Most do not realize the value it has and how it really is the foundation of a residence. Floors add personality to your house; they deliver you from room to room and are what the walls are built from.
This multi-talented surface serves as a dual acting foundation both structurally and decoratively speaking. The floors are a ‘statement’ when an individual steps in through your doors. Another words, they can either “work for you or against you”. With this in mind it’s no wonder people say, “I’m floored”.
The Ground Floor:
Mosaics date back over 4,000 years in history. Using different colored stones, shells, glass, pottery, and or other materials this technique of patterns through placement is still a decorative delight. The actual term for the individual pieces used is: Tessera or tesserae. The spaces between or the grout is called: interstices.
Dating in the second half of the third millennium BC, is the temple in Arbra, Mesopotamia which contained the earliest known place where mosaics were made of different materials: ivory and shells.
The first glass tiles making a mosaic was from around 1500 BC.
The late 4th century Christian Churches began to have the interiors and exteriors full of mosaics from the walls to the ceilings. The Santa Constanza and Santa Pudenziana are from the 4th century and still exist presently. The Church of Nativity in Bethlehem floor is partly the original mosaics with influence of Roman geometric motifs.
A coastal Ionian town of Sarada, Albania is where in 2003 the remains of an early synagogue had been found, the excavation was a huge find in history as it was the first time that archeologist were actually able to explore and do research on the site. Due to the Communist rule prevented it in previous years. Discovered were mosaics of a menorah, citron tree, ram’s horn, and other biblical symbols; depicting the Jewish holidays. The researchers believe that this synagogue was actually last used as a Church in the 6th century.
Girih are intricate patterned mosaics, it’s most known as architectural art in many Muslim cultures.
There are three main methods of mosaics, they are: direct method, indirect method, and the double indirect method. In addition to this, there are different styles or techniques of mosaics: Opus reglatum, opus vermiculatum, opus musivum, opus tessellatum, opus palladianum, opus classicum, opus circumatcum, opus sectile, and micromosaic. Opus origin is Latin and when translated to English it means “work”.
As you can see in the pictures, these floors are considered Mosaics however each one is made of different materials. The granite blended with marble, gives a Victorian feel to the floor. The Saturnia marble mixed with travertine, limestone, Amtico Florentine blue marble gives the floor an Italian or Greek impression. Finally, the wood design could be considered a mosaic as it is a design made of other types of woods inlayed. In return, these wood floors a traditional or colonial foundation to the room.
Overall, floors can be as simple and basic or as elaborate and detailed as you style. Design just doesn’t rest around or on the floors…it starts with the floor!
Style and Design,