Our in-house sustainable terrazzo Rubblazzo made its debut in the commercial world earlier this year, as the worktop for a stunning reception island in Building C of Assembly Bristol.
Assembly Bristol is a mixed-use development comprising three buildings, a flagship mixed-use regeneration scheme in Bristol’s Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone. Construction of Assembly Bristol began in 2018 with a phased opening: Building A – now fully let by BT as its South West hub – opened in July 2021, while Building C launched in February 2024. Building B will open later this year.
The project has been undertaken with a focus on sustainability, using modern methods of construction to achieve low embodied carbon and ultimately, more efficient running costs for occupants. With Rubblazzo, Diespeker has contributed in a small but impactful way to these aims.
Rubblazzo is our bespoke-made terrazzo that uses reclaimed aggregate rather than traditional marble or granite chippings. As it repurposes waste products rather than quarried stone, it is a far more sustainable material than standard terrazzo. Every Rubblazzo mix made is utterly unique, as the end design depends on the mix of aggregate used.
Rubblazzo was specified for the reception island at Assembly Bristol Building C. This was designed to provide a different experience to usual reception set ups. Visitors check in using an app rather than signing in at the desk, which instead becomes a multifunctional space. This distinctive island incorporates power points, fridges for drinks, and attractive planting to welcome visitors.
Adam Burgess, Associate Director at AHMM, explained: “We have downplayed the traditional reception aspect and designed a console that users can sit up at, complemented at the other end by a lounge space for relaxing or time out. Our aim was to create a multifunctional but focussed space that everything else works around.”
The console was designed by Francesca Gaskin from Bristol-based joinery company, Jetsam Made, which consciously designs and manufactures items that are made to last using sustainable materials and methods. The console is constructed of 30 x 30 box section steel, powder coated in oyster white, with surfaces of birch plywood and pippy oak veneer. Diespeker’s polished Rubblazzo worktop sits on top, blending perfectly with the aesthetic and the ethos of Francesca’s concept and Assembly Bristol’s overarching aims.
Our Operations Manager Bruno Dias coordinated the templating, manufacture and installation to ensure the deadline was met in time for the launch.
Developer: Bell Hammer
Architects: AHMM
Joinery: Jetsam Made
Photography: Jetsam Made
