Tilework

Tilework is the craft of designing, fabricating, and installing tiles on walls, floors, or surfaces for decorative and functional purposes. Tiles are manufactured from ceramic, porcelain, glass, cement, or natural stone and are joined with grout to form a continuous surface.

Historically, tilework has ancient roots in Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean, with Roman mosaics and glazed wares. Islamic tilework developed complex geometric and vegetal patterns; in the Ottoman and Persian traditions it reached high architectural refinement. In Europe, tilework appeared in Renaissance maiolica and later in Art Nouveau and Modernist design. Encaustic cement tiles were popular in 19th- and early 20th-century homes, particularly in the Americas and Europe.

Techniques include mosaic using small tesserae; geometric zellij in North Africa; cuerda seca for color-bound patterns; and the use of glazed surfaces that form durable, colored finishes. Porcelain and ceramic tiles are fired to endure wear; glass tiles provide translucent color; cement tiles allow bold patterns and relief textures. Installation relies on an appropriate substrate, waterproofing where needed, and grouting.

Applications cover interior and exterior surfaces: floors, walls, façades, bathrooms, kitchens, swimming pools, and public spaces; tilework is also used in murals and decorative panels.

In contemporary architecture, tilework combines traditional craft with digital design, enabling large-scale mosaics and intricate patterns. Quality tilework emphasizes durability, ease of maintenance, and the skill of installers and designers, while preserving cultural and artistic expression.