ciudad tiles by nel colectivo

nel colectivo of mexico sent us these images that illustrate the making process of their ‘ciudad tiles’. the hydraulic tiles inspired by mexico city’s landscape were recently presented at valencia design week.

‘the manufacturing process for the tile involves the use of fine-ground marble dust and the application of coloring with a metal plate. the materials are set in a cement mold using a hydraulic press. there are several variations of the tile that have use different colors and volumes. when combined they create an abstracted city-like pattern. the tiles were made in collaboration with the job garcía moya workshop in mexico city, with the help of marcelo miranda, albino medina and juan jiménez.’

image © designboom

image © designboom

nel is a platform for experimentation created by a collective of mexican designers. the group, founded in 2004, functions as a channel for making and exhibiting design project that are conceptual and playful in nature. the current member of nel colectivo are ricardo casas, alejandro castro, emiliano godoy, héctor esrawe y cecilia león de la barra.

(unless credited otherwise) images courtesy of nel – text via a-seis