One of the most striking images at Cevisama 2005 was an array of 19 aluminium sunflowers carrying images of the eight prize-winning projects selected from the 50 that were submitted in the third Tile of Spain Awards competition.

Organised by the Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers’ Association, Ascer, the awards recognise excellence in the use of tile in architectural projects; both new build and refurbishment.

Led by architect Patxi Mangado, the eminent jury named Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagliabue of EMBT Arquitectos as one of the joint winners of the architecture category, for the Santa Caterina Market project, Barcelona.

The original building dates back to 1848 and its restoration paid due homage both to its historical and architectural context.  The site is very complex, encompassing both the commercial market, residential buildings and a range of public spaces.

With its different shapes and colours, the new ceramic tiled roof played a vital role in the revitalisation of the space. The roof has been covered in hexagonal glazed stoneware pieces fired to very high temperatures with bright, transparent glazes. Bold use of colour allowed the creation of a macro-mosaic evocative of the vibrant life of the building beneath. The vast mosaic also features emblematic images of the produce sold in the market.

Cevisama
Ascer

A new post by Joe Simpson, Diary of a Tile Addict, December 2016.