Origin of tessellation can be traced back to 4,000 years BC, when the Sumerians used clay tiles to compose decoration features in their homes and temples. In fact, the very word “tessellation” comes from Latin tessellātus, meaning “of small square stones” made of stone, clay or glass, and from Greek τέσσερα - tessera, meaning “four”, both alluding to the fact that the first tilings were made from square tiles, as the easiest shapes from which to create a pattern.Īn example of a semi regular tessellationīecause of their characteristics and decorative aesthetics, tessellations were used in art and architecture alike, providing coverings for walls, pavements and ceilings of many facilities. Although it derives from a clear set of rules based on mathematical shapes and calculations - a fact which might give out the impression that there is no space for creativity - tessellations have been widely accepted in a great number of cultures, and are employed in many spheres of life such as design and art.Īlso known as tiling, the process of creating a tessellation can be based on a regular, semiregular geometric or non-geometric shape or tile, which are then all lined up next to each other as basic elements checkered to assemble larger complex construction.

Do you know what is the definition of tessellation and what does it take to create one? When a geometric shape is repeated over and over again, covering a plane of tiles without any gaps or overlaps, it results in a tessellation - a mosaic pattern of a mesmerizing visual effect.

Non regular octagon tessellation