Philosophy

Do you have a preferred Italian wine that helps you relax after a tiring day? Is there a particular aroma or flavor that takes you back to your Italy trip? Alternatively, do you feel more peaceful when you have an Italian architecture book in your lap, and as you close your eyes, you begin to envision your ideal home? These reactions are our bodies' responses to sensory stimuli, whether we see, touch, smell, taste or hear something. This approach has been at the heart of everything we have done at Terra Viva since we opened. Our goal has always been to create products that evoke a sensory response. At any trade shows we've attended over the years, we've always included a small sign next to our products that reads "PLEASE TOUCH." Neuroaesthetics is a specific area of study that explores how different forms of aesthetic experience, such as fashion, design, and architecture, can affect our emotions, behavior, and overall well-being. By delving deeper into how our brains process aesthetic experiences, neuroaesthetics provides valuable insights into how these experiences can influence our lives.

When you touch our wavy surface products or see the unique color created by combining various reclaimed materials in our patterns, it may trigger a specific response in your brain. This response could lead to changes in your heart rate, the release of dopamine, and an overall feeling of well-being. Although we didn't realize it at first, the practical approach we've taken in creating our products now has scientific backing. As we've recreated some of the most iconic floors found in Italian palaces, churches, and villas, we've leveraged the body and mind's response to neuroaesthetics, which is why many of our clients adore our products. Simply looking at our products can evoke memories of or a passion for Italian culture, architecture, or way of life. Reproducing classic floors has required us to meticulously observe and search for the perfect materials and colors that match the existing floor. It's taken numerous trials with different finishes until the new tiles perfectly resemble the old. Since 1999, Terra Viva has been the only company in the world that creates floors by salvaging and reassembling materials, and we're also the only company in the world that sells preassembled and pre-finished tiles since 1999.