8,000 Brass Rings and Terrazzo

A Masterpiece at Ibis Styles City Center, Bucharest

NTMA 2022 Honor Award Winner

In the heart of Bucharest, Ibis Styles City Center stands as a remarkable example of craftsmanship, precision, and material innovation. Executed by VIA.ZZO, this project brought together advanced terrazzo techniques, custom metalwork, and architectural artistry to create one of Romania’s most distinctive interior installations.

Precision and Complexity in Every Detail

The most complex and time-consuming stage of the project involved creating a matrix of 8,000 brass rings across a 500-square-foot area. Each ring was bent manually on site according to a meticulously plotted grid of dots. To achieve the desired visual contrast, each brass ring was filled with a special hard sponge that temporarily blocked the cavity during the first terrazzo pour — a light-gray base layer made from Italian Bianco Carrara and Bardiglio Chiaro marble chips.

Once the background cured, the sponge material was carefully removed, and the second terrazzo color — a dark gray blend with Nero Ebano marble chips — was poured in place inside every ring. The result is a terrazzo surface that combines geometric precision with handcrafted artistry, each brass dot forming part of a rhythmic and tactile pattern.

Precast Innovation and Design Continuity

The design extended beyond the main lobby area. For the elevator floors, the VIA.ZZO team precast terrazzo plates with an inverted (negative) version of the brass-ring design, which were later bent and fitted on site to ensure a seamless match.

The project featured three distinct terrazzo color zones, each defining a different spatial experience:

Reception Area: White-cream terrazzo with oversized yellow marble inclusions (Bianco Verona & Giallo Sienna).

Lobby Entry and Lifts: The signature brass-rings terrazzo pattern in light and dark gray tones.

Toilets: A solid dark-gray terrazzo made with Grigio Carnico marble for a sleek, monolithic look.

 A Project of Patience and Precision

This project marked the first time in Romania that such a brass-ring terrazzo design was executed. It required exceptional mechanical skill, precision craftsmanship, and above all, patience. The total installation spanned 2,800 sq-ft and included four custom epoxy terrazzo color blends. Despite traffic restrictions and limited access hours due to the hotel’s central location, the VIA.ZZO team completed the work in just 20 days — an achievement of both logistical and artistic excellence.

A Landmark of Modern Terrazzo Design

Designed from the beginning to meet IBIS franchise standards, the hotel has since become one of the busiest locations in central Bucharest. Its terrazzo floors and vertical surfaces showcase the versatility, durability, and beauty of modern terrazzo, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in hospitality design.

The Ibis Styles City Center project is more than an award-winning installation — it’s a statement of craft, geometry, and material harmony.