Work it out

Les Mills Hutt City is divided into multiple studios across different levels. The two staircases leading to the women's gym and the boxing ring receive a high level of foot traffic and therefore needed to be constructed from a suitably hard-wearing material.

BM Scott Ltd is a family-run company which has been in business since 1966. The company was contracted to manufacture, supply and install the exposed polished concrete staircases for this project. The product used is concrete/terrazzo a particularly durable surface, the concept for which comes from Venetian mosaic workers.

A carefully formulated matrix is blended with selected aggregates. This is then cast into the desired shape. This process has changed little since Roman times, except for a few modern additives, the use of modern equipment and the highly polished surface.

Terrazzo was chosen for this project for its strength, durability and aesthetic appearance.

"The surface can be made sleek, smooth, rough, rustic or anything in between," says director Bernard Scott. The colour possibilities are almost limitless, meaning the surface works well when used against wood, metal, glass, masonry or synthetic textures.

"Seamless products are easy to maintain, which is why you see concrete/terrazzo in hospitals, shopping malls and cafes and restaurants, where high standards of hygiene and durability are essential.

"The many colour and texture variations, and the fact that the product can be moulded to almost any shape, have made concrete/terrazzo an extremely popular building medium," he adds.

High-performance floor toppings have been the company's focus for many years. The product range includes a variety of resin and aggregate composite floor toppings, suitable for a range of applications, from heavy industrial to dramatic, colourful designs.

For further information, contact BM Scott Ltd, 27 Main Rd South, Levin. Phone (06) 367 9799, fax (06) 367 9798. Website: www.terrazzo.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas