Ceramic rugs that converse with history

This rehabilitation project of an indiana house, carried out by Estudio Lätt, was not just a simple aesthetic update, but rather a delicate and respectful intervention that acknowledges the heritage value of the site while opening it up to a new phase, more connected to the needs of contemporary life.

In this dialogue between tradition and modernity, the floors play a key role. Among them, we highlight the choice of our Lancelot encaustic tiles from the Mintons series, which create true ceramic rugs both in the main entrance and on a side balcony of the house.

These ceramic rugs are not mere decorative coverings: they are statements of intent. They symbolize a bridge between two eras, a look to the past with the sensitivity of the present. With a geometric pattern combining terracotta, reddish, and white tones, the Lancelot model reinterprets the classic language of encaustic tiles with a refined and elegant aesthetic, ideal for preserving the original character of the house.

In a sober setting, with carefully designed lighting, the ceramic rug formed by the Lancelot porcelain tiles serves as a symbolic invitation—more than a decorative element, it becomes a key part of the story the house tells. Its geometric pattern converses with the classical symmetry of the hall, creating a visual rhythm that gently leads inward.

Moreover, integrating the Lancelot tile into this space is also a functional solution: its durability and easy maintenance make it ideal for high-traffic areas, without compromising on aesthetics. This entry point thus becomes a representation of the entire project: a restoration based on respect for what already exists, without renouncing beauty or comfort.

The second space where the Lancelot model takes center stage is one of the side balconies. In this intimate corner, bathed in sunlight and protected by a blue railing reminiscent of the Mediterranean, a small ceramic rug has been created, transforming the perception of the space. The design is framed by plain cream-colored tiles, acting as a neutral border that enhances the richness of the central pattern. This visual resource, common in the tradition of encaustic flooring, makes the rug appear to float above the floor, like a tapestry that defines and organizes the space and invites us to live in it.

The repetition of the same tile model in different parts of the house is no coincidence: it responds to a conscious decision to give the project visual and narrative coherence. Through the Lancelot pattern, a sort of visual code is established that runs throughout the house as a guiding thread, stitching together rooms and outdoor spaces under a unified aesthetic sensitivity.

This geometric design in terracotta red and white is both traditional and contemporary. It echoes the classical—it reminds us of modernist mosaics and Victorian manor floors—but presents itself with a fresh chromatic palette that brings it into the present. This balance is, in fact, the very essence of the intervention: to keep the indiana identity of the house alive, while adapting it to contemporary life.

The choice of the Lancelot model reflects a search for identity, permanence, and timeless beauty. Its versatility allows it to be used both indoors and outdoors, creating spatial continuity. Its durability ensures it will last for decades. But above all, its design is emotionally evocative: it touches on an almost ancestral memory of our grandmothers' floors, of homes with history, of spaces where time seems to stand still.

Builder: Corten Cantabria
Photography: David Montero