The design of the Mewa range stems from Polish manufacturer Warssawa’s quest to answer an apparently simple question. ‘Is it possible to create tiles that link the traditional quality and uniqueness of hand-made products with modern designs, shapes and innovative technology?’
The search for the answer has become Warssawa’s passion with the goal of making not just a modern cement tile but the creation of the perfect tile: Mewa.
Mewa are decorative concrete tiles whose shape was inspired by a simple paper puzzle. The surface of each tile collapses creating a subtle play of light and shadow on any tiled façade, with its intensity dependent on the concentration and angle of light.
All the moulds used in the production of Mewa tiles are hand-made. As a result, each tile is unique.
The body comprises micro aggregates composed of quartz sands that are subjected to special processes to ensure the uniformity of the tile’s mass, while at the same time minimising porosity.
The result is a high-strength product with excellent resistance to fire, water, chemicals and abrasion. Equally important, the additives used in the concrete greatly improve the composite properties of the tile.
Warssawa uses white Portland cement as its base binder, which has a high degree of whiteness. Its use makes it possible to produce the tiles in virtually any colour. The pigments used are finely ground oxides of iron, chromium, cobalt and titanium. They are characterised by the homogeneity of the staining, and are resistant to weathering and UV rays.
The final step in the creation of each Mewa tile is what Warssawa terms the ‘care’ stage. After the product is removed from the mould it is transported to a high humidity compartment and placed in a temperature-controlled chamber to age for about a month. Once fully cured, the tiles are then thoroughly cleaned and packed.
For more information on Mewa or Warssawa, read Tile & Stone Journal, November 2016, Page 60, or visit www.tileandstonejournal.com.
A new post by Joe Simpson, Diary of a Tile Addict, March 2017.