Parquet

Parquet (French: [paʁkɛ]; French for "a small compartment") is a geometric mosaic of wood pieces used for decorative effect in flooring.

Parquet patterns are often entirely geometrical and angular—squares, triangles, lozenges—but may contain curves. The most popular parquet flooring pattern is herringbone.

Etymology

The word derives from the Old French parchet (the diminutive of parc), literally meaning "a small enclosed space".

History

Large diagonal squares known as parquet de Versailles were introduced in 1684 as parquet de menuiserie ("woodwork parquet") to replace the marble flooring that required constant washing, which tended to rot the joists beneath the floors. Such parquets en losange were noted by the Swedish architect Daniel Cronström at Versailles and at the Grand Trianon in 1693.^[1]

Materials

Timber contrasting in color and grain, such as oak, walnut, cherry, lime, pine, maple etc. are sometimes employed, and in the more expensive kinds the richly coloured mahogany and sometimes other tropical hardwoods are also used. While not technically a wood, bamboo is also a popular material for modern floors.

Parquet floors were formerly usually adhered with hot bitumen. Today modern cold adhesives are usually used.

Repair

Parquet floors are usually long lasting if maintained correctly.^{[citation needed]} Unstuck blocks are re-glued. Bitumen-glued blocks require use of either hot bitumen, cold bitumen emulsion, or a spirit based parquet adhesive.

Domestic use

Parquet floors are often found in bedrooms and hallways. They are considered better than regular

Basketball courts

One of the most famous parquet floors is that used by the

While the Charlotte Hornets unveiled a parquet-like floor at the Time Warner Cable Arena for the 2014–15 season, it is not considered a true parquet floor. Instead, it simulated the pattern of the parquet by alternately painting light and dark trapezoid sections through the use of varnish, forming a beehive pattern that is synonymous with the franchise. In 2021 the Hornets changed its court design, relegating the trapezoids to midcourt.

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  The Boston Celtics' trademark oak parquet floor at TD Garden
• 
  The Orlando Magic's maple parquet floor at Kia Center
• 
  The Brooklyn Nets' maple herringbone parquet floor at Barclays Center
• 
  The Minnesota Timberwolves' maple parquet floor at Target Center, used from 1996 to 2008
• 
  The Toronto Raptors' 1995 to 1999 maple herringbone parquet floor at Maple Leaf Gardens, also used at the Skydome and Copps Coliseum
• 
  The New Jersey Nets' maple parquet floor at Meadowlands Arena, used from 1988 to 1997

There are a handful of basketball courts in NCAA college basketball that have consistently featured parquet floors.

See also

• Wood flooring
• Marquetry
• Hardwood
• Harewood
• Tessellation
• Tunbridge ware

References

External links

• J. W. Boughton - Wood Flooring Pamphlet (1907) Kenneth Franzheim II Rare Books Room, William R. Jenkins Architecture and Art Library, University of Houston Digital Library.