Replicated building materials are often used in prestigious restoration projects. In such projects, our clients set very specific requirements regarding, among other things, color and dimensions...
An example is the restoration of the former chapel of the Hageveld Minor Seminary in the Netherlands. The guideline was to preserve the authentic architectural structure designed in the 1800s by architect Jan Stuyt (1868-1934).
The client chose original Impruneta terracotta tiles for the chapel floors and stairs. We ensured that the colors matched the original historical structure. The dimensions of the floor tiles were also very specific. Therefore, our manufacturers created custom molds for this project.
Another fine example of the use of terracotta to restore the former glory of a historic building is the restoration and renovation of Leipzig Castle. The key to this project was to bring back the building's hidden historical elements. Handmade Italian terracotta was used in this project.
The castle dates back to the 16th century and was built under architectural supervision. As such, Renaissance and Baroque styles characterize the building. Several counts were among the castle's former residents. Subsequently, during the Second World War, the castle served as a shelter for refugees and orphans. Eventually, the castle came into private ownership in 2001.
The residents wished to restore the castle to its original state. Therefore, a team of architects and restoration architects was appointed, which began work on the restoration plans in 2001. Even historians were part of the team. The Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz handled the financial aspects of the restoration. Historical documents, drawings, and research accompanied the restoration. Terrecotte Europe was invited for an exploratory visit in the winter of 2018. The purpose of the visit was to identify and assess the castle floors. Most sections of the terracotta floors were still uncovered, allowing us to trace their origins. Focusing on traditional methods of producing terracotta, Terrecotte Europe submitted various samples to the project team for evaluation. The assessment included requirements regarding originality, quality, production method, and standardization. The team selected an original handmade terracotta tile measuring 385 x 385 x 50 mm. After an unfortunate delay due to the Covid pandemic in 2019, the floor was installed in 2021.
Terrecotte Europe follows the following steps when handling a restoration project:
1. Exploratory visits to identify terracotta floors and building materials and assess them for originality, quality, production method(s), and standardization requirements;
2. Continuous monitoring of the production process, i.e., color and color stability, finish, slip resistance, frost resistance, and impregnation;
3. Preservation of traditional methods for producing terracotta while simultaneously achieving the desired result;
4. Simplifying the progress of the project by maintaining efficient and effective communication with our client.
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