Carved ceramic: gauged brickwork in Valencia city centre

Abstract

[EN] The presence of gauged brickwork is a tangible reality in Valencia City Centre (Spain). Since the latest part of the XVII C., gauged bricks are visible in the most detached façades of historical buildings. On the one hand we can recognize structural performances, in arches, columns and walls; on the other, we have to take constance of decoration solutions in columns, pillars and capitals. Bricks are incredibly carved, in a curious set of solutions. Where can we find this constructive language and techniques? Why can we discover such incredible solutions with carved bricks? The study, as a part of a wider research, focused on traditional brickworks from Valencia, tries to analyze and describe historical, technical and constructive doubts or answers about such detached \¿ceramic folds¿, visible both in the religious, and in the civil architecture of Valencia City. Above all we can discover these technical solutions in casings, door frames, eaves and capitals decoration, as the study would explain and describe.