Architectural Record 2015-04

146 WHAT’S NEW IN RETAIL AND HOSPITALITY DESIGN EDUCATIONAL-ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Photo courtesy of NTMA
tradesman to install it properly. A much better
alternative is to use manufactured stone veneer
which is lighter in weight, less expensive than fulldepth
stone, and much easier to install. Further,
the manufacturing of it has progressed to the
point where it is very difficult to tell any difference
between the look of full-depth stone and the
appearance of manufactured stone veneer.
Stone’s inherent characteristics of texture
and warmth have been used on buildings to help
define and highlight the design of both interior
and exterior wall surfaces. As such, architects
and designers have been able to incorporate
products that transform ordinary environments
into unique and memorable spaces. There is an
abundance of choice and variety available with
dozens of stone profiles and over 150 different
colors on the market offering a full range of
palettes, shapes, and textures. To achieve this
range, some manufacturers mold their products
from natural stone and then hand paint them
with layers of iron oxide dyes to create a unique
results such that no two stones are the same.
Compared to natural stone, manufactured stone
veneer provides the advantages of lower weight,
easier installation, less waste, controllable color
palettes, and lower price.
Terrazzo Surfaces
Another natural and durable material that is
having a bit of a resurgence in high-use buildings
is terrazzo. Terrazzo is a floor and wall finish
that descended directly from simplified forms
of centuries-old styles of marble mosaics used
in Venice. It was first created when resourceful
Venetian mosaic workers discovered a way to
reuse marble remnants. With odd-size chips,
they began to build terraces around their living
quarters. Over time it has evolved into an
environmentally friendly material that combines
extraordinary design potential, optimum
durability, and low maintenance. Terrazzo has
also been shown to be the lowest-cost flooring
material available based on its life cycle.
During the 1920s terrazzo became popular in
the United States as Italian immigrants brought
the trade and techniques with them. During
this time, the availability of brass divider strips
made possible the creation of highly artistic
and intricate patterns and designs in terrazzo
floors. Divider strips had often been used,
beginning with wood and evolving to marble
along with zinc metal and even plastic, allowing
for expansion and contraction of the surface
to prevent cracking. In more recent years, new
developments with epoxies and acrylics have
continued to make terrazzo ever more cost
effective, high functioning, and versatile. The
spectrum of colors is now unlimited and the
make-up and finish can be suited to meet a
variety of building situations. For example,
Photo courtesy of Eldorado Stone
Terrazzo can create simple,
elegant, and easy-to-maintain
floors in hotels, restaurants,
and other retail and
hospitality settings.
The use of materials such as manufactured
stone veneer conveys a strong design message
while remaining cost effective and durable.
rustic terrazzo is a uniformly textured surface
designed for exterior use in which the matrix
is depressed to expose the chips. There are
also newer thin-set and epoxy-based terrazzo
options which are less labor intensive and
provide greater design flexibility.
Architects and designers have been taking
advantage of the unlimited color palette and
state-of-the-art water jet cutting techniques
available with terrazzo to create visually
stunning environments. Custom patterns and
even corporate logos can easily be incorporated
within a terrazzo floor. Intentional color
transitions and design patterns can create
an immediate visual impact by reinforcing a
variety of themes and offering navigational
clues throughout the building. Terrazzo is also
antimicrobial, non-porous, and easily cleanable
using a damp mop with neutral cleaners leaving
no harsh odors to irritate people.
3. WATER CONSERVATION
Retail and hospitality facilities can be very
high users of water, particularly if they attract
a lot of people on a daily basis who need to
use restrooms or take showers. In the interest
of serving customers, these businesses don’t
want to unnecessarily deprive anyone of
water for washing. But in the interest of water
conservation and green building design, they
also don’t want to have any water wasted or used
beyond what is necessary. In response, a number
of plumbing fixture manufacturers have created
some innovative and appealing products that
provide high design, conservation, and a feeling
of fullness in the delivery of water.
Faucets and Showers
Busy restrooms include sinks where people are
washing their hands regularly and frequently.
As people come and go, the turning on and off
of water is prone to waste, particularly if the
faucets aren’t turned completely off. Hence,
the very common automatic, motion-sensing
faucets have emerged as a logical solution to
assure that water is used only as needed when
hands are actually present for washing. Further,
as a “touchless” fixture, hygiene is improved
by eliminating the transfer of germs or bacteria
from one user to another.
One downside to these automatic faucets
has been their need for electrical power and
wiring. The actual electricity usage may be
small, but the need for wiring, circuitry, and
connections requires coordination during
design and construction and may be particularly
difficult to achieve in some renovation projects.
In response, manufacturers have offered
alternatives such as solar-powered faucets
that rely on borrowed light from electric light
fixtures. One of the latest innovations though
is an automatic faucet that uses the energy from