Recycled
terrazzo
Circular terrazzo (Recuperazzo), handmade to order from 100% recycled aggregates recovered from deconstruction sites in Wallonia. Crushed on site (urban mining). Applications: floors, walls, worktops, bathroom furniture, window sills. Unlimited colour palette, subject to quote.
What is recycled terrazzo?
Circular terrazzo is a mineral finish poured in situ, made of aggregates from inert demolition waste and a binder that fixes them into a continuous mass. The aggregates (crushed brick, concrete, tile or ceramic) make up most of the material, while the binder provides setting and cohesion. The mix replaces all virgin aggregates with material that has already been used in construction.
This substitution gives the finish a distinctive mineral character, with colours that depend on the sources of the aggregate. The polished surface reveals the inclusions, and the palette varies with the site of origin, which makes each shade genuinely bespoke.
This freedom of composition means terrazzo can be used for a room floor as well as for a worktop, a window sill or bathroom furniture. Each project sets its own mix from the material available.
It is made in Belgium, at Fexhe-le-Haut-Clocher, by Alchimie des matières. The aggregates are recovered from deconstruction sites in Wallonia and crushed on the spot with small mobile crushers, to reduce transport. The binder combines a mineral resin, a technical cement and white cement.
Installation & uses
The terrazzo is laid on site by the craftsman, on a prepared, level substrate. The mix of aggregate and binder is poured, floated, then ground and polished once set to reveal the inclusions. Each stage calls for specific skills and suitable grinding equipment.
The process suits floors, walls, worktops, window sills and bathroom furniture. Polished, matt or satin finishes are obtained by adjusting the grinding grit and the final protective coat.
This craft work gives a unique result on each project, with colours and aggregate sizes chosen in advance. Thicknesses remain moderate, compatible with existing substrates without structural levelling works.
At end of life, the finish can be removed from the substrate and crushed to become aggregate for a future terrazzo. The producer already practises this loop, organising the take-back on the sites concerned.
About the producer
Alchimie des matières is a Belgian circular terrazzo workshop, based at Fexhe-le-Haut-Clocher in Wallonia. The company develops the Recuperazzo process, a terrazzo poured from aggregates recycled entirely from the demolition of local buildings and infrastructure.
The workshop operates on site, with small mobile crushers that allow the aggregates to be recovered and prepared on the spot, without transporting material. Each project is unique, and the producer supports the specifier from the choice of source material to the final polish.
FAQ
What finish thickness should be allowed for?
Ten millimetres as standard. The finish is poured to order by the craftsman, to suit the surface to be covered, whether floor, wall or furniture.
How long does it last?
Alchimie des matières gives a two-year guarantee. The usual service life of terrazzo exceeds fifty years.
What happens to it at end of life?
It is crushed to become the aggregate of a future Recuperazzo. Its aggregates already come from recycling, through urban mining.
Alongside
Same layer, same use · three materials to compare.
