The functional beauty in TwelveConcept’s high-traffic flooring

When specifying flooring for ultra-high traffic areas such as airports, workplaces and hotels, aesthetics often aren’t the first priority. Requirements such as durability, strength, slippage and fire resistance trump – because when hundreds and even thousands of people are using that flooring every day, a functional user experience is paramount for health and safety, maintenance and hygiene purposes. Yet according to Athens-based TwelveConcept, that doesn’t mean high-traffic flooring can’t be elegant, conceptual, customised and even luxurious.

TwelveConcept has four decades of expertise in designing and applying architectural flooring and surface solutions for high-traffic areas. From its showroom in Kolonaki and workshop in Acharnes on the outskirts of Athens, its team offers design, processing and application for certified turnkey solutions that meet high standard technical and safety specifications. For founder Anthony Bilios, high-quality materials and products combined with detail-oriented craftsmanship result in functional solutions that, as a by-product of these values, are also highly aesthetic.

The company has developed a trusted international portfolio of high-quality flooring materials and products; including terrazzo, marble, concrete and ceramics in products from slabs to tiles. Their close relationships with suppliers such as Agglotech, Laminam, Coem, Quarella and Inalco, as well as manufacturing expertise in their own concrete and glass fibre reinforced concrete (GFRC) custom products, means they can smoothly translate concepts and ideas with precision and attention to detail across a broad range of topologies – such as hotels, residences, commercial and public spaces, and spas and swimming pools.

When we think about high-traffic interiors, the airport might be considered a pinnacle of use. At the Aegean Business Lounge at Athens Airport, TwelveConcept worked with K Studio architects to select and install two varieties of light-coloured terrazzo from Agglotech, meeting requirements for durability and strength whilst creating a reflective yet calming, clean and polished effect. ‘We played a part in creating a space that not only serves a practical purpose, but also enhances the overall airport experience for all who visit,’ says Bilios.

With the aim of reaching total aesthetic harmony, many of TwelveConcept’s designs go beyond just flooring. They artfully extend surfaces into functional custom furniture, bathroom vanities, room dividers, reception areas and even building facades. For example at the Kaizen Gaming Campus, a state-of-the-art office for over 1000 employees located in the vibrant Maroussi area of Athens, TwelveConcept selected a high-quality terrazzo from Agglotech to ‘ensure a sleek and durable foundation that would withstand the demands of a dynamic work environment’ – a foundation that extended from flooring to staircases, bathrooms, reception areas and more.

This skill also allows the team to achieve highly personalised interiors – a quality not usually associated with ultra-high traffic, yet one that is ideal for hospitality and residential projects. At the 5-star Noūs Santorini hotel, working in collaboration with Divercity Architects, they took inspiration from local aesthetics to achieve an atmosphere of understated luxury with a combination of premium terrazzo from Agglotech; Cardoso stone-effect ceramic tiles from Coem; marble slabs from Quarella; and custom concrete and Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) slabs manufactured in-house with precision.

At the Kratigos Estate – a villa located on a hill in Kratigos Mytilene with panoramic views of the Aegean Sea nominated for the Mies van der Rohe architecture award – TwelveConcept collaborated with B Group Architects with the goal to create a flawlessly seamless way of life. ‘One of the most rewarding aspects of the project was the creation of custom special constructions,’ says Bilios, who selected two types of natural-coloured large format slabs from Inalco and Laminam to work with. ‘We used the large format slabs to create unique and functional elements such as kitchen countertops, bathrooms, outdoor spaces and even the pool. The result is a cohesive and harmonious design that perfectly blends form and function.’ And that’s the result that TwelveConcept strives to achieve – whatever the traffic speed.

© Architonic

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