This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/jun/19/the-tile-hunter-of-barcelona-preserving-a-unique-form-of-local-art-in-pictures
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| The tile hunter of Barcelona: preserving a unique form of local art | The tile hunter of Barcelona: preserving a unique form of local art |
| (6 months later) | |
| Joel Cánovas was sipping a beer on a patio in Barcelona when a piece of rubbish caught his eye. A section of hydraulic cement tile – the once-ubiquitous flooring material used in homes around the city for a century or so from the mid-1800s – had been discarded during a home renovation. | Joel Cánovas was sipping a beer on a patio in Barcelona when a piece of rubbish caught his eye. A section of hydraulic cement tile – the once-ubiquitous flooring material used in homes around the city for a century or so from the mid-1800s – had been discarded during a home renovation. |
| Cánovas picked up the tile, and a passion was born. Spotting tiles in dumpsters throughout Barcelona, Cánovas soon began to document his discoveries on Instagram as The Tile Hunter (@i_rescue_tiles). | Cánovas picked up the tile, and a passion was born. Spotting tiles in dumpsters throughout Barcelona, Cánovas soon began to document his discoveries on Instagram as The Tile Hunter (@i_rescue_tiles). |
| Patterns of Barcelona: photographer captures symmetry of city facades – in pictures | |
| Hydraulic tiles first appeared in homes in Catalonia midway through the 19th century, and for decades they were a popular flooring material for middle-class families – cheaper than marble, but no less beautiful. To Cánovas, the tiles are a unique form of local art, each with a different geometric or floral design pressed atop layers of cement and sand. | Hydraulic tiles first appeared in homes in Catalonia midway through the 19th century, and for decades they were a popular flooring material for middle-class families – cheaper than marble, but no less beautiful. To Cánovas, the tiles are a unique form of local art, each with a different geometric or floral design pressed atop layers of cement and sand. |
| Today, homeowners are swapping out their tiles for modern flooring. Cánovas is on a crusade to save the tiles, which are no longer widely manufactured the old-fashioned way: by hand, using a mould, a hydraulic press and pigmented cement. | Today, homeowners are swapping out their tiles for modern flooring. Cánovas is on a crusade to save the tiles, which are no longer widely manufactured the old-fashioned way: by hand, using a mould, a hydraulic press and pigmented cement. |
| Trobeu les 113 diferències 😅#GRACIA #thetilehunter #cementtiles #hydraulictile #igerscatalunya #handmadetiles #rajola #rajolahidraulica #baldosa #baldosas #baldosahidraulica #tile #tileaddiction #tiles #tilepattern #tilerescuer #ihavethisthingwithtiles #ihavethisthingwithfloors #floortiles #mosaic #modernisme #pattern #ig_street #encaustictiles #cementtegels #barcelona #bcn #THETILEHUNTER | Trobeu les 113 diferències 😅#GRACIA #thetilehunter #cementtiles #hydraulictile #igerscatalunya #handmadetiles #rajola #rajolahidraulica #baldosa #baldosas #baldosahidraulica #tile #tileaddiction #tiles #tilepattern #tilerescuer #ihavethisthingwithtiles #ihavethisthingwithfloors #floortiles #mosaic #modernisme #pattern #ig_street #encaustictiles #cementtegels #barcelona #bcn #THETILEHUNTER |
| A post shared by The Tile Hunter (@i_rescue_tiles) on Jun 4, 2017 at 9:06am PDT | A post shared by The Tile Hunter (@i_rescue_tiles) on Jun 4, 2017 at 9:06am PDT |
| When Cánovas started gathering tiles in 2014, he was a casual collector, picking up stray pieces that he would use to make end tables or picture frames. But after a feature in a local newspaper, his phone started ringing off the hook with tips from locals spotting hydraulic left in skips, or homeowners with entire apartments’ worth of tile that they wanted taking off their hands. | When Cánovas started gathering tiles in 2014, he was a casual collector, picking up stray pieces that he would use to make end tables or picture frames. But after a feature in a local newspaper, his phone started ringing off the hook with tips from locals spotting hydraulic left in skips, or homeowners with entire apartments’ worth of tile that they wanted taking off their hands. |
| “Now, it’s a responsibility,” he says. | “Now, it’s a responsibility,” he says. |
| His collection today includes more than 30,000 tiles with 1,800 unique designs. After running out of space in his apartment, Cánovas moved his tiles into a small workshop in Gràcia but that space is now overflowing (“You can’t even walk in there”), so he recently expanded to a warehouse space outside of the city. | His collection today includes more than 30,000 tiles with 1,800 unique designs. After running out of space in his apartment, Cánovas moved his tiles into a small workshop in Gràcia but that space is now overflowing (“You can’t even walk in there”), so he recently expanded to a warehouse space outside of the city. |
| Although Cánovas occasionally sells his tiles to cover the cost of renting storage space – he once shipped 1,800 tiles to an interior designer in Australia – he’s more interested in preserving part of Barcelona’s history than embarking on a retail enterprise. | Although Cánovas occasionally sells his tiles to cover the cost of renting storage space – he once shipped 1,800 tiles to an interior designer in Australia – he’s more interested in preserving part of Barcelona’s history than embarking on a retail enterprise. |
| Once a month, Cánovas hides tiles around the city and shares clues with his Instagram followers. The game, dubbed Tile Crossing, is like Pokémon Go for tiles, and the winners keep their findings. Cánovas plans to release a Tile Crossing app to facilitate the game and make it easier for his followers to drop a pin when they find tiles for him to salvage. | Once a month, Cánovas hides tiles around the city and shares clues with his Instagram followers. The game, dubbed Tile Crossing, is like Pokémon Go for tiles, and the winners keep their findings. Cánovas plans to release a Tile Crossing app to facilitate the game and make it easier for his followers to drop a pin when they find tiles for him to salvage. |
| “I think it will be the first app that serves solely to recuperate a part of our street heritage,” Canovas says. “These tiles aren’t thought of as part of our heritage, but they should be.” | “I think it will be the first app that serves solely to recuperate a part of our street heritage,” Canovas says. “These tiles aren’t thought of as part of our heritage, but they should be.” |
| Guardian Cities brings together the best in urban photography on Instagram at @guardiancities. Share your shots with us on Instagram with the hashtag #guardiancities | Guardian Cities brings together the best in urban photography on Instagram at @guardiancities. Share your shots with us on Instagram with the hashtag #guardiancities |
| Rescat d'un model lletjot, fa unes setmanes en una ubicació força especial #casabatllo #casaamatller #baldosa #thetilehunter #rescuedtile #tile #tiles #baldosahidraulica #rajolahidraulica #barcelonafloors #floortiles #barcelona #bcn #modernisme #hydraulictiles #encaustictiles #ihavethisthingwithfloors #ihavethisthingwithtiles #tileaddiction #mosaic #handmadetiles #cementtiles #catalunya #recoveredtile #ig_barcelona #rajola #igerscatalunya #eixample #Gaudí #PuigiCadafalch | Rescat d'un model lletjot, fa unes setmanes en una ubicació força especial #casabatllo #casaamatller #baldosa #thetilehunter #rescuedtile #tile #tiles #baldosahidraulica #rajolahidraulica #barcelonafloors #floortiles #barcelona #bcn #modernisme #hydraulictiles #encaustictiles #ihavethisthingwithfloors #ihavethisthingwithtiles #tileaddiction #mosaic #handmadetiles #cementtiles #catalunya #recoveredtile #ig_barcelona #rajola #igerscatalunya #eixample #Gaudí #PuigiCadafalch |
| A post shared by The Tile Hunter (@i_rescue_tiles) on Apr 14, 2017 at 2:05am PDT | A post shared by The Tile Hunter (@i_rescue_tiles) on Apr 14, 2017 at 2:05am PDT |
| We are very pleased to announce that we have been invited to the prestigious AR&PA Biennial 2017. This great event promotes cultural heritage restorstion and management and this year it is taking place in Portugal. These 40 hydraulic tiles rescued in the streets of Barcelona are on their way to #Amarante /// Estamos muy contentos de anunciar que hemos sido invitados a participar en la Bienal AR&PA, un prestigioso evento que promueve la restauración y gestión del patrimonio cultural, este año se celebra en Portugal. Estas 40 baldosas hidráulicas recuperadas en las calles de Barcelona ya estan de camino a #Amarante /// Estem molt contents d'anunciar que hem sigut convidats a participar a la Bienal AR&PA, un prestigiós event que promou la conservació, gestió i restauració del patrimoni cultural, aquest any es celebra a Portugal, aquestes 40 rajoles hidràuliques, rescatades pels carrers de Barcelona, ja estàn camí d' #Amarante #thetilehunter #cementtiles #hydraulictile #igerscatalunya #handmadetiles #rajola #rajolahidraulica #baldosa #baldosas #baldosahidraulica #tile #tileaddiction #tiles #tilepattern #recoveredtile #tilerescuer #ihavethisthingwithtiles #ihavethisthingwithfloors #floortiles #mosaic #modernisme #pattern #ig_street #encaustictiles #cementtegels #barcelona #bcn #tilecrossing 👉🏼Recordamos que THE TILE HUNTER (El Caçador de Rajoles) SÓLO TIENE 2 CUENTAS OFICIALES EN INSTAGRAM: @i_rescue_tiles y @tilecrossing ✊🏻⚒ | We are very pleased to announce that we have been invited to the prestigious AR&PA Biennial 2017. This great event promotes cultural heritage restorstion and management and this year it is taking place in Portugal. These 40 hydraulic tiles rescued in the streets of Barcelona are on their way to #Amarante /// Estamos muy contentos de anunciar que hemos sido invitados a participar en la Bienal AR&PA, un prestigioso evento que promueve la restauración y gestión del patrimonio cultural, este año se celebra en Portugal. Estas 40 baldosas hidráulicas recuperadas en las calles de Barcelona ya estan de camino a #Amarante /// Estem molt contents d'anunciar que hem sigut convidats a participar a la Bienal AR&PA, un prestigiós event que promou la conservació, gestió i restauració del patrimoni cultural, aquest any es celebra a Portugal, aquestes 40 rajoles hidràuliques, rescatades pels carrers de Barcelona, ja estàn camí d' #Amarante #thetilehunter #cementtiles #hydraulictile #igerscatalunya #handmadetiles #rajola #rajolahidraulica #baldosa #baldosas #baldosahidraulica #tile #tileaddiction #tiles #tilepattern #recoveredtile #tilerescuer #ihavethisthingwithtiles #ihavethisthingwithfloors #floortiles #mosaic #modernisme #pattern #ig_street #encaustictiles #cementtegels #barcelona #bcn #tilecrossing 👉🏼Recordamos que THE TILE HUNTER (El Caçador de Rajoles) SÓLO TIENE 2 CUENTAS OFICIALES EN INSTAGRAM: @i_rescue_tiles y @tilecrossing ✊🏻⚒ |
| A post shared by The Tile Hunter (@i_rescue_tiles) on Oct 11, 2017 at 9:48am PDT | A post shared by The Tile Hunter (@i_rescue_tiles) on Oct 11, 2017 at 9:48am PDT |
| Esta mañana en Disney World 🤤😏 #rescuedtile #thetilehunter #cementtiles #hydraulictile #igerscatalunya #handmadetiles #rajola #rajolahidraulica #baldosa #baldosas #baldosahidraulica #tile #tileaddiction #tiles #tilepattern #tilerescuer #ihavethisthingwithtiles #ihavethisthingwithfloors #floortiles #mosaic #modernisme #eixample #pattern #ig_street #encaustictiles #cementtegels #barcelona #bcn | Esta mañana en Disney World 🤤😏 #rescuedtile #thetilehunter #cementtiles #hydraulictile #igerscatalunya #handmadetiles #rajola #rajolahidraulica #baldosa #baldosas #baldosahidraulica #tile #tileaddiction #tiles #tilepattern #tilerescuer #ihavethisthingwithtiles #ihavethisthingwithfloors #floortiles #mosaic #modernisme #eixample #pattern #ig_street #encaustictiles #cementtegels #barcelona #bcn |
| A post shared by The Tile Hunter (@i_rescue_tiles) on Feb 20, 2017 at 12:19pm PST | A post shared by The Tile Hunter (@i_rescue_tiles) on Feb 20, 2017 at 12:19pm PST |
| Esto es lo que pasa cuando rescatas baldosas a diario por las calles de Barcelona durante los últimos 3 años: 4 modelos diferentes, fabricantes diferentes, distintos barrios y una misma idea, Barcelona 100% /// Aixó es el que passa quan rescates a diari pels carrers de Barcelona durant tres anys: 4 rajoles diferents, 4 rescats diferents, diferents fabricants, diferents barris, una mateixa idea, Barcelona 100% ///This is what happens when you rescue tiles everyday: 4 different models, 4 different rescues, different makers... Barcelona 100% #thetilehunter #cementtiles #hydraulictile #igerscatalunya #handmadetiles #rajola #rajolahidraulica #baldosa #baldosas #baldosahidraulica #tile #tileaddiction #tiles #tilepattern #tilerescuer #ihavethisthingwithtiles #ihavethisthingwithfloors #floortiles #mosaic #modernisme #pattern #ig_street #encaustictiles #cementtegels #barcelona #bcn | Esto es lo que pasa cuando rescatas baldosas a diario por las calles de Barcelona durante los últimos 3 años: 4 modelos diferentes, fabricantes diferentes, distintos barrios y una misma idea, Barcelona 100% /// Aixó es el que passa quan rescates a diari pels carrers de Barcelona durant tres anys: 4 rajoles diferents, 4 rescats diferents, diferents fabricants, diferents barris, una mateixa idea, Barcelona 100% ///This is what happens when you rescue tiles everyday: 4 different models, 4 different rescues, different makers... Barcelona 100% #thetilehunter #cementtiles #hydraulictile #igerscatalunya #handmadetiles #rajola #rajolahidraulica #baldosa #baldosas #baldosahidraulica #tile #tileaddiction #tiles #tilepattern #tilerescuer #ihavethisthingwithtiles #ihavethisthingwithfloors #floortiles #mosaic #modernisme #pattern #ig_street #encaustictiles #cementtegels #barcelona #bcn |
| A post shared by The Tile Hunter (@i_rescue_tiles) on Aug 22, 2017 at 10:44pm PDT | A post shared by The Tile Hunter (@i_rescue_tiles) on Aug 22, 2017 at 10:44pm PDT |
| Rescuing jewels every day of the year #thetilehunter #cement tiles #hydraulictile #igerscatalunya #handmadetiles #rajola #rajolahidraulica #baldosa #baldosas #baldosahidraulica #tile #tileaddiction #tiles #tilepattern #recoveredtile #tilerescuer #ihavethisthingwithtiles #ihavethisthingwithfloors #floortiles #mosaic #modernisme #pattern #ig_street #encaustictiles #cementtegels #barcelona #bcn 👉 THE TILE HUNTER (El Caçador de Rajoles) SÓLO TIENE 2 CUENTAS OFICIALES EN INSTAGRAM: @i_rescue_tiles y @tilecrossing ✊⚒ | Rescuing jewels every day of the year #thetilehunter #cement tiles #hydraulictile #igerscatalunya #handmadetiles #rajola #rajolahidraulica #baldosa #baldosas #baldosahidraulica #tile #tileaddiction #tiles #tilepattern #recoveredtile #tilerescuer #ihavethisthingwithtiles #ihavethisthingwithfloors #floortiles #mosaic #modernisme #pattern #ig_street #encaustictiles #cementtegels #barcelona #bcn 👉 THE TILE HUNTER (El Caçador de Rajoles) SÓLO TIENE 2 CUENTAS OFICIALES EN INSTAGRAM: @i_rescue_tiles y @tilecrossing ✊⚒ |
| A post shared by The Tile Hunter (@i_rescue_tiles) on Jan 29, 2018 at 11:54am PST | A post shared by The Tile Hunter (@i_rescue_tiles) on Jan 29, 2018 at 11:54am PST |
| #thetilehunter #caçarajoles #tile #tileaddiction #ihavethisthingwithfloors #ihavethisthingwithtiles #antiquity #catalunya #baldosahidraulica #baldosashidraulicas #hydraulictile #encaustictiles #ciutatvella #raval #barcelona #bcn #floortiles #ig_street #barcelonafloors #artnouveau #mosaic #baldosa #baldosas #rajolahidraulica | #thetilehunter #caçarajoles #tile #tileaddiction #ihavethisthingwithfloors #ihavethisthingwithtiles #antiquity #catalunya #baldosahidraulica #baldosashidraulicas #hydraulictile #encaustictiles #ciutatvella #raval #barcelona #bcn #floortiles #ig_street #barcelonafloors #artnouveau #mosaic #baldosa #baldosas #rajolahidraulica |
| A post shared by The Tile Hunter (@i_rescue_tiles) on Jun 9, 2016 at 10:04am PDT | A post shared by The Tile Hunter (@i_rescue_tiles) on Jun 9, 2016 at 10:04am PDT |
| The Tile Hunter rescata rajoles cada dia pels carrers de Barcelona, hi han dies bons i dies millors, després hi han dies com el d'ahir on vaig rescatar més de 80 rajoles, entre elles 33 nous models diferents, tot en un sol contenidor. Ja hem superat els 800 models diferents i més de 9000 rajoles salvades en poc més de dos anys i mitg. I el que queda. Moltíssimes gràcies a tots els nostres seguidors, col·laboradors i amics, sense la vostra ajuda i suport ens seria una mica més difícil fer la nostra feina 😉 #thetilehunter #cementtiles #hydraulictile #igerscatalunya #handmadetiles #rajola #rajolahidraulica #baldosa #baldosas #baldosahidraulica #tile #tileaddiction #tiles #tilepattern #tilerescuer #ihavethisthingwithtiles #ihavethisthingwithfloors #floortiles #mosaic #modernisme #pattern #ig_street #encaustictiles #cementtegels #barcelona #bcn THE TILE HUNTER ✊🏻⚒ | The Tile Hunter rescata rajoles cada dia pels carrers de Barcelona, hi han dies bons i dies millors, després hi han dies com el d'ahir on vaig rescatar més de 80 rajoles, entre elles 33 nous models diferents, tot en un sol contenidor. Ja hem superat els 800 models diferents i més de 9000 rajoles salvades en poc més de dos anys i mitg. I el que queda. Moltíssimes gràcies a tots els nostres seguidors, col·laboradors i amics, sense la vostra ajuda i suport ens seria una mica més difícil fer la nostra feina 😉 #thetilehunter #cementtiles #hydraulictile #igerscatalunya #handmadetiles #rajola #rajolahidraulica #baldosa #baldosas #baldosahidraulica #tile #tileaddiction #tiles #tilepattern #tilerescuer #ihavethisthingwithtiles #ihavethisthingwithfloors #floortiles #mosaic #modernisme #pattern #ig_street #encaustictiles #cementtegels #barcelona #bcn THE TILE HUNTER ✊🏻⚒ |
| A post shared by The Tile Hunter (@i_rescue_tiles) on Jun 30, 2017 at 7:17am PDT | A post shared by The Tile Hunter (@i_rescue_tiles) on Jun 30, 2017 at 7:17am PDT |
| Seguid cazando Pokemons, yo a lo mío #thetilehunter #rescuedtiles #rescuedtile #baldosas #baldosa #baldosashidraulicas #baldosahidraulica #cementtiles #floortiles #barcelonafloors #barcelona #tileaddiction #bcn #catalunya #igerscatalunya #ig_barcelona #ihavethisthingwithfloors #ihavethisthingwithtiles #tiles #tile #artnouveau #modernisme | Seguid cazando Pokemons, yo a lo mío #thetilehunter #rescuedtiles #rescuedtile #baldosas #baldosa #baldosashidraulicas #baldosahidraulica #cementtiles #floortiles #barcelonafloors #barcelona #tileaddiction #bcn #catalunya #igerscatalunya #ig_barcelona #ihavethisthingwithfloors #ihavethisthingwithtiles #tiles #tile #artnouveau #modernisme |
| A post shared by The Tile Hunter (@i_rescue_tiles) on Jul 21, 2016 at 11:04am PDT | A post shared by The Tile Hunter (@i_rescue_tiles) on Jul 21, 2016 at 11:04am PDT |
| Alexia fue rescatada hace apenas una semana de unos sacos de carrer Palau, la echaron con prisas del número 5 de esa misma calle, por suerte la salvamos de una destrucción segura #TILECROSSING #GRACIA #thetilehunter #cementtiles #hydraulictile #igerscatalunya #handmadetiles #rajola #rajolahidraulica #baldosa #baldosas #baldosahidraulica #tile #tileaddiction #tiles #tilepattern #tilerescuer #ihavethisthingwithtiles #ihavethisthingwithfloors #floortiles #mosaic #modernisme #pattern #ig_street #encaustictiles #cementtegels #rajolaires #barcelona #bcn 👉🏻 @i_rescue_tiles + @tilecrossing= THETILEHUNTER ‼️‼️‼️QUEDAN 7 DÍAS PARA LA REVOLUCIÓN ‼️‼️‼️⚒✊🏼 | Alexia fue rescatada hace apenas una semana de unos sacos de carrer Palau, la echaron con prisas del número 5 de esa misma calle, por suerte la salvamos de una destrucción segura #TILECROSSING #GRACIA #thetilehunter #cementtiles #hydraulictile #igerscatalunya #handmadetiles #rajola #rajolahidraulica #baldosa #baldosas #baldosahidraulica #tile #tileaddiction #tiles #tilepattern #tilerescuer #ihavethisthingwithtiles #ihavethisthingwithfloors #floortiles #mosaic #modernisme #pattern #ig_street #encaustictiles #cementtegels #rajolaires #barcelona #bcn 👉🏻 @i_rescue_tiles + @tilecrossing= THETILEHUNTER ‼️‼️‼️QUEDAN 7 DÍAS PARA LA REVOLUCIÓN ‼️‼️‼️⚒✊🏼 |
| A post shared by The Tile Hunter (@i_rescue_tiles) on Feb 19, 2018 at 3:47pm PST | A post shared by The Tile Hunter (@i_rescue_tiles) on Feb 19, 2018 at 3:47pm PST |
| Barcelona | Barcelona |
| Cities on Instagram | Cities on Instagram |
| Design | Design |
| Interiors | Interiors |
| Homes | Homes |
| Catalonia | Catalonia |
| features | features |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |