Decorated Ceramic Applied to Architecture. Detachment Techniques

Abstract

The extraction or detachment of decorated ceramics embedded in architectural structures is a very complex task. The first step in safeguarding the ceramic elements is to establish a rigorous methodology for intervention. Such was the case in a project in Sitges, Spain, of detaching more than 14,000 tiles from the Cau Ferrat, Can Rocamora and Palau Maricel. This document describes the chal lenges that existed at the outset of the project and how they were addressed by designing an original process that was suitable to the task at hand. Because this methodology was successful in its application, it may be considered as a foundation for future works.