Mosaics as a Decorative Contribution to Historical and Contemporary Interiors

The sense of ‘place’ is very important in human existence. Among many factors that influence the sense of place, is the character of the surfaces which define a place. Throughout history decorative practices that enhance the sense of place have been used highlighting the floor, walls and ceiling of spaces through the crafts of murals, carving, fabrics, mosaics, etc. This study aims to research ‘mosaics’ as decorative practice, focusing on selected examples in historical and contemporary applications, so as to point to the potential contribution of mosaics to the artistic and experiential values of space/place with emphasis on interiors. It will study mosaics as decorative craft form in terms of materials, techniques, pictorial contents as well as location and effects in space. Oriented towards interior designers and artists as well as architects, this research intends to bring forth various potentials of mosaics as unique place-specific art and craft technique, along with the singular effects and contribution to the values of interior space. Keywords: Mosaic, Interior Architecture, Decoration, Sense of place, Space perception.