Gijón’s heritage is also preserved in everyday life, in the materials and trades that shaped its interiors: glaziers, blacksmiths, carpenters, cabinetmakers, mosaic artists… Hydraulic tiles are one such handcrafted item.

The design you are standing on was photographed in a building on Calle Cabrales, in Gijón, shortly before it was hidden beneath a modern floor. Its restoration reflects a desire to revive a decorative element that, in doorways and homes, was part of the city’s everyday life.

It is a handcrafted piece made from water, cement, aggregates and pigments. It is not fired; it sets slowly over 28 days. Each tile has been made one by one, using pressure, following techniques dating back over a century by Hidráulicos L’Ordaliegu (Laviana, Asturias). This workshop, located in the village of Tiraña, has a recognised track record in the revival of historic craft techniques and the promotion of the region’s material heritage.

There was a time in Gijón when the floors of many homes were like this: unique and durable. Reviving them today is a way of keeping that memory alive. It is not just a look back at the past, but also a look towards the future.

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Work included in the exhibition: The city we are