Travertine

Sometimes known as travertine limestone, sometimes as travertine marble, it is in fact neither limestone nor marble, but a separate formation of calcite. The stone is characterised by slight imperfections in its cream-coloured surface which create delicate, fascinating patterns in a finished, polished surface. The slight, subtle variations in hue create light, smooth, textured surfaces, suited to floors throughout homes and offices.

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Use of Travertine in architecture has notable examples in ancient and modern times. Two famous structures have made extensive use of its strength and beauty: the magnificent circus in Rome, the Coloseum; and the modern, sprawling Getty Center in Los Angeles, California.

Panorama of the Getty Center below the Exhibition Pavillion at dusk; by Roger Howard

The travertine—1.2 million square feet of it—is one of the most remarkable elements of the complex. This beige-colored, cleft-cut, textured, fossilized travertine catches the bright Southern California light, reflecting sharply during morning hours, and emitting a honeyed warmth in the afternoon.

Travertine is often associated with public architecture and expresses qualities such as permanence, solidity, simplicity, warmth, and craftsmanship.

The stone is most widely used in Italy, Greece and Turkey. Many stones reveal fossilized leaves, feathers, and branches when they are split along their natural grain.

Travertine is one of the most frequently used stones in modern architecture, and is commonly seen as facade material, wall cladding, and flooring. Architect Welton Becket was one of the most frequent users of travertine, incorporating it extensively into many if not most of his projects. The entire first floor of the Becket-designed UCLA Medical Center has thick travertine walls.

Travertine, similar to limestone, is comprised primarily of calcium carbonate and is a smooth and porous stone characterized by its rich creamy hue. Small amounts of new minerals may grow from any impurities in the original rock, resulting in coloured streaks and veins giving rise to variations in colour and appearance from light creams and beiges to walnut.

Tiles are cut from blocks either vein-cut or cross-cut to produce a different and appealing, surface appearance. Travertine tiles are marketed either with the holes unfilled for a more rustic and antique look, or the holes are filled with a tinted epoxy resin and honed to give the surface a solid effect. The stone is used in a wide range of interior applications, including floor and wall tiles.

Evening at the Colosseum in Rome

Great civilizations of the ancient world relied on travertine as a staple building material to create their most notable and ornate structures, including the Roman Coliseum.