Tails of Two Palettes: Arabian Horse-Inspired Mosaic Flooring in Qatar
“The design patterns provided by MEC Artworks were absolutely gorgeous”
— Project Manager
A challenging project that gave the design team at MEC Artworks a chance to exercise their creativity and skills.
It was magical to see the design team’s ideas and the feedback from the project manager at the design firm sourcing this project evolve into this abstraction. The project took its fair share of time as the consultation process was quite lengthy.
As the design progressed, we shared each design detail with the project manager. The project moved forward only after approval or feedback.
Client Brief for This Floor Mosaic
A French interior architecture and design firm approached MEC Artworks for a project in an equestrian facility in Doha, Qatar.
Our client planned to have mosaic flooring installed in the facility’s restroom area. However, they didn’t want anything standard.
MEC Artworks was provided with samples of French mosaic artwork to study the movement and flow of that mosaic style. It was made clear that originality of design was non-negotiable.
As it was an equestrian facility, our client wanted the artwork to relate to horses, but not mosaic motifs of the animal itself.
The concept was moving lines like the movement of hairs in an Arabian horse’s tail. The texture and overall look of the lines were to look like that too.
Natural marble stone was finalised as it is naturally available in the colours needed for this project. It would also provide the required texture. A rough overall feel with a touch of smoothness.
The feel of touching the actual creature’s tail.
To level up the quality and look of this mosaic further, our client requested gold-foiled glass tesserae to be added to the mosaic.
The gold-foiled tesserae were to border one side of the lines rather than cover all the sides of each tessera.
The original design pattern was shared with the design firm. Their feedback and requested changes were made.
The French Style of Mosaic Art
A bit about the French style of mosaic artistry.
The French have been creating mosaics for a long time now. A grand example of a French religious mosaic is in the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, a Roman Catholic church in Paris.
The Christ in Majesty mosaic depicts Jesus in his glory.
French mosaics are about movement and flow. Imagery is also created in a seamless style to give the fixture a feeling of movement.
Modern French mosaics also favour the same kind of simplicity and motion in the artwork. Tesserae of different colours may intersect at angles to create almost abstract imagery.
The overall style is the same. A feeling of fluidity is created in the images. Colours smoothly merge into each other.
Smooth, clean lines, subtle changes in shades and elegant colour combinations are some features that French mosaic art generally displays. Art Nouveau is also a popular style in French mosaic artistry.
MEC Artworks has created mosaics in the Art Nouveau style before too. This style combines floral patterning, vines and branches with flowing smooth lines to create harmony and balance.
The styling of the vines is such that they actually seem to be in motion.
Our client required the same kind of energy to be visible in the tail-hair mosaic for this equestrian activity centre.
As the depiction was essentially of ‘horse tail-hair’, the tesserae had to be cut in such a way that the smooth curves made by curling or moving hair could be captured in the mosaic.
Glacier White, Ice Blue, Stone Grey tones merging to create a sense of continuity in the female area. Dark and light taupe evoking the same magic on the male side.
Inspiration Moodboard for This Floor Mosaic
The Arabian horse was the main inspiration for this floor mosaic.
Another inspiration was the French mosaic art style. Our client demanded energy and movement within the mosaic.
The floors of the restrooms were to give the impression of horse tail hairs in motion. In texture and fluidity.
1.5 cm tesserae were to be used in creating this mosaic. Our Italian-trained artisans suggested using KitKat-style rectangular tiles to give the slender effect of horsetail hairs.
Different shades were to be used on different floor areas. The women’s restroom floor was to be done in greyish blue. The tile colours used in particular were Glacier White, Ice Blue, and Stone Grey.
The men’s restroom floors were to be done in more brownish shades. The actual tile colours included Light and Dark Taupe, with all shades in between them also.
As the Arabian horse has a tail which is mostly one colour, only one natural shade range was used per floor. Greyish for one and brownish for the other.
Charcoal tiles were added to both floors for contrast.
Gold and silver foiled glass tiles were added for the wow factor. As discussed before, after dialogue from both sides, the gold and silver were to be added on one side of four rows to give an occasional glimmering effect.
The main focus in this project was on the hand-cut andamento technique for crafting the tiles.
Each tile was chiselled to take its place in creating one tail-hair at a time.
Design Development
Colour Palettes and Materials
Two main colour palettes were decided for two areas of flooring. A light-to-dark taupe shade range for one floor area and a greyish-blue tone for the other.
Marble was to be the main material. The availability of marble in the shades mentioned earlier was one reason for this choice.
The facility was a public one and thus was probably going to be subject to heavy foot traffic. Stone was an obvious choice for mosaic flooring. Silver and gold foiled glass tesserae were added along a few borders for a more glamorous effect.
Fluidity & Motion
This aspect was particularly required in this project. The Arabian horse possesses a naturally long and bushy tail. They are famous for holding up their tails in moments of excitement. It also sways gracefully when the horse moves.
Our design team and artisans were required to capture that graceful swaying in this mosaic. Each tile was arched and shaped in turn for every individual tail hair.
The hand-cut andamento method was applied to get those perfect curves in each tile. Our Italian-trained artisans shaped and created each narrow tile to join to each other and form an individual hair. Each completed section looked beautiful. Graceful horse tail hairs showing the actual movement of those fine creatures. A floor that wasn’t just serviceable or even beautiful, but a fine work of art.
The Overall Design Pattern
Each tail hair came together to create the effect of many horse tails swaying in unison. A subtle design pattern for a place housing horses. The beauty of this abstract mosaic lay in the fact that it not only mirrored horse tails, as was required, but also gave the rough texture of horse hair.
This design pattern was by far one of the most unique creations by MEC Artworks. The very idea of horse tail hairs as floor mosaic tiles is probably an idea that has never been crafted in mosaic. The cherry on top of the cake was the texture of the material used for this mosaic tile. The right amount of roughness, but with an elegant finish that befits marble.
MEC Artwork's Identity as a Custom Mosaic Supplier
This project clarified a few points for our UAE market. MEC Artworks positions itself as a custom mosaic supplier.
We have 40+ years of work experience in the mosaic industry. In the process, we have developed contacts with the best-quality material suppliers worldwide.
The marble and glass used in our mosaics are bought in bulk. So we enjoy the advantage of low prices without compromising quality.
Having said this, we would like to clarify that we are not simply material suppliers. This project did provide us with an opportunity to supply additional materials to the facility, needed for other fixtures.
The offer, though lucrative, was turned down politely, as we focus on the provision of bespoke custom mosaics rather than raw materials for constructional use.
Commercial Mosaics by MEC Artworks
Behind the scenes of artisan craftsmanship:
“The client described the samples sent as beautiful and thanked us for them ”
— MEC Artworks Studio
MEC Artworks has created numerous mosaics for commercial properties. We have created various sizes, from full-scale murals to feature walls for restaurants and hotels.
Commercial mosaics made for floors, especially, are generally created with high-quality materials that work well in heavy traffic areas and have less wear and tear.
Natural stone, like marble, travertine and slate, holds up well for mosaic floors. For interior mosaics, polished marble may be used, which requires more maintenance and care than unpolished marble.
However, unpolished marble works better for exteriors, giving a natural look that blends more with the outdoors. Marble does require regular sealing to avoid it from absorbing water and spoiling.
Gold and silver-foiled glass was a glamorising addition to the mosaic. MEC Artworks has recently created a gold-foil glass mosaic for a waterfront property in Maryland, US.
An Abstract Plus Nature-Inspired Mosaics
“We wanted to see movement and energy in this mosaic and we did so in the samples”
— Our Client
This floor mosaic for an equestrian facility was a unique combination of a nature-inspired and an abstract mosaic.
The design pattern was largely inspired by the Arabian horse’s tail, which lent it that organic factor.
As the tail hairs were depicted throughout the mosaic area, the overall look was of elegantly swaying lines, bringing it into the orbit of abstract mosaics.
Our client wanted to see the actual movement of a horse’s tail in the mosaic and we are proud to say that they were very satisfied with the samples sent to them.
After we sent the finalised mosaic samples, our client thanked us for the work put in and described the samples as beautiful.
Our client was also very impressed by the quality of the material procured by MEC Artworks for the mosaic.
We have 40+ years of experience in the mosaic industry and thus are connected to some of the finest material-providing concerns in this business.
We were informed by our client that they also required slabs of stone and marble for other construction going on in the facility. They wished to procure it through us.
Consequently, our mosaic consultant explained that MEC Artworks is a bespoke, custom-made mosaic supplier rather than a stone vendor.
FAQs
Can a marble floor mosaic replicate the flowing movement of horse tail hairs?
Yes. A custom marble mosaic can capture the flowing, stringy strands of horse tail hairs through carefully selected stone colours, curved patterns, and variations in tile size. The design can show the elegance, strength, and movement associated with horses.
Which marble colours are best for a horse-tail-inspired floor mosaic?
Natural shades of white, ivory, beige, grey, and taupe can recreate the texture and tonal variations of horsehair. Contrasting colours like charcoal can add depth and movement while complementing the facility’s architecture and interior decor
Is a marble floor mosaic suitable for an equestrian facility in Doha, Qatar?
Yes, marble mosaics can be made suitable for designated interior areas, such as reception halls, lounges, wet areas and hospitality spaces within an equestrian facility. The marble, finish, installation system, and maintenance plan should be selected according to foot traffic, moisture exposure, and cleaning requirements. Slip resistance is particularly important in areas where floors may become wet.
Can the mosaic design be customised to match the facility’s equestrian identity?
Absolutely. The design can incorporate flowing horse-tail patterns, equestrian-inspired details, or the facility’s signature colours and logo in mosaic artwork. A custom layout can also be developed to complement the flooring dimensions, surrounding materials, and overall architectural style.
Is a marble floor mosaic suitable for Doha’s high temperatures?
Certainly! Marble is mostly suitable for interior flooring in Doha’s hot climate, particularly in temperature-controlled spaces. For areas exposed to direct sunlight or significant temperature fluctuations, the marble, adhesive, grout, and installation system should be selected to accommodate thermal movement and prevent cracking or loosening.
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