These Terrazzo Mirrors Add a Modern Touch to Centuries-Old Techniques If there was one type of pattern you could bring into your home from another country, what would it be? For Aiden Bowman and Josh Metersky of Trueing, the award winning Brooklyn-based design studio, their current answer is terrazzo. Inspired by the terrazzo floors of Milanese lobbies and Venetian palazzos, they have created these two mirror installations #3000 Mirrors. The mirrors come in two varieties, and unlike traditional terrazzo, these are installations to be hung on walls. As such, Trueing’s mirrors give a taste of grandeur without being overly ornate. Concrete Materials: Marble, Mirror, Glass Dimensions: H: 24″ W: 14″ D: .75″ Walnut Materials: Walnut, Glass Dimensions: H: 30″ W: 17.5″ D: 1″ We spoke to Aiden to get his reflection on the mirrors. THE PLUS: What inspired the overall shape of the mirrors? Aiden Bowman: We were curious about designing something that would balance the terrazzo pattern. The pill shape is nice because it’s a mixture of straight lines and curves, complementing the irregular nature of the terrazzo. It’s also just one example of the many shapes that are possible; we’re working on a few more versions in different configurations. TP: Why did you go for concrete and walnut? Did you consider other materials? AB: Concrete was a natural first step, since it’s what terrazzo is usually made from. The walnut was chosen because it offered a nice contrast, both to the mirror pieces and the concrete version. Other materials are also in the works; we’re particularly excited about resin. TP: Where did you source the marble itself? AB: The marble is actually surplus material in true terrazzo fashion and comes from Italy. We use Rosso Levanto (red), Verdi Alpi (green) and Giallo Reale (yellow). TP: Why do you want people to catch their reflections, rather than just have marble fragments? AB: The inclusion of mirror seemed like an important nod to the functionality of the piece, falling somewhere between art and furniture. TP: Do the installations work better in cluttered or non-cluttered spaces? AB: It’s up to you! We think either would do it justice as the mirrors are very adaptable. They would be the perfect accent in a restrained interior or fit right into a room bursting with great finds. TP: Do you travel often in search of new inspirations? AB: When possible, yes! We were recently in Portugal, which was a big jumping-off point for this collection. We also find inspiration close to home, walking by the family-run marble and glass suppliers in our neighbourhood or the wonderful design projects that are happening around the city. TP: What is it about terrazzo that means it never goes out of style? AB: It’s a natural pattern—or a ‘non-pattern pattern’—always organic and random at once. It’s much easier to work with something like this as it exists outside of any specific style. It also lasts forever, which helps. TP: Any plans to keep using terrazzo for other designs? AB: We’re open to any and all crushed stone patterns, so we’ll see where that takes us! TP: What’s the most essential characteristic of a successful designer in 2018? AB: Commitment to your own truth… or true-ing for lack of a better term!
