Author: admin

Award Winning – Highly Detailed 54 Color Terrazzo Emblem

Award Winning – Highly Detailed 54 Color Terrazzo Emblem

About the RBFCU Project

The award-winning terrazzo installation in the Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union (RBFCU) is the result of an intense, yet collaborative, tug-of-war between the terrazzo contractor and designers to push the limits on terrazzo artistry.

A 16-foot pictorial medallion, the centerpiece of the installation, depicts iconic images of Texas history—the Alamo, the state flag, the state capitol, the Guadalupe River, a Texas Ranger, Randolph Air Force Base—in 54 color combinations of epoxy terrazzo.“There’s really nothing quite like it,” said Sonya McDonald, Sr. VP of planning and market development at RBFCU. “It’s an eye-catching and unique piece that takes people’s breath away. People are accustomed to seeing art on the walls, but most have never seen such a high level of intricate artistic design built into the floor.”Along with its exceptionally detailed graphics, this 9,800-square-foot project in the credit union’s San Antonio corporate headquarters showcases four different terrazzo systems and a total of 69 colors.

A 2013 Honor Award winner in National Terrazzo & Mosaic Association’s (NTMA) annual search for outstanding examples of terrazzo craftsmanship, the project vividly demonstrates the design potential of terrazzo flooring systems.In the planning stages of the project, the designers and architect had a vision for the medallion they wanted to create. What they didn’t know was what was technically feasible, or how refined the details could be, explained Lawrence Di Filippo of Venice Art Terrazzo Company of San Antonio, the contractor on the project.

To learn more about this project and its story follow the link to the NTMA article here:
Dreaming the Possible Dream
National Honor for Terrazzo Installation That Tells Cred Union’s Story

 

To view photos of this project click here

 

We’re Featured in a Book!

We’re Featured in a Book!

We are excited to announce that after 10 years in the making the “Building Arts of South Texas” book is available. We are incredibly honored and very humbled to have been thought of and included in this book. Our company, Venice Art Terrazzo, is one of ten different craftsman trades being featured.  It is a fascinating read showcasing the historical artisans and endangered trades of South Texas and the families that help keep them alive.

 

Ten master craftsmen, ten fascinating stories, one 486-page illustrated book about “old world” building trades craftsmen working today to help preserve historic buildings, and the families who have dedicated their lives to saving historic structures in South Texas. The book is about some very special craftsmen who love to work with their hands, who have a burning passion their work, and who value the old architecture with the hope they can be preserved for future generations. Some of the best craftsmen based in San Antonio have told their stories about their professions and the generations of dedicated family members who have carried these vanishing skills forward in order to preserve our past, saving our historic buildings for future generations to enjoy.

Barbara Dean Hendricks sat down with ten craftsmen in San Antonio and recorded their stories that have been meticulously transcribed for this ambitious book. Over 250 photos have been added to their stories to show us just what they do and how they do it. Quote from the introduction page of the book: “The Building Arts Group and the San Antonio Conservation Society have teamed together to capture-before they are gone-the voices of the artists and craftsmen that help make possible the enjoyment of these poems in wood and stone by keeping them restored and conserved in all their glory.

The men and women in these pages are building arts practitioners, the creative souls who give us the plaster roses and wooden mantelpieces and iron hinges and hand-carved cabinets that make each building unique and noteworthy. San Antonio is known for its ambience, its multicultural charm, its preservation of historical spaces and places. But many of the building arts and the skills of the artisans who help make this city so wonderful are in danger of disappearing.This book aims to preserve, at least in print and photographs, these traditional skills. In addition to the words and pictures, there are appendices listing projects by the featured craftsmen, and their contact information.