MOSAICS MARTI

In 1913, Bernat Martí Arlandís opened his small workshop of cement tiles (mosaico hidráulico) in Manresa, after a few years of working directly with several master builders and producing the mosaics in the same works. Bernat Martí, born in Oliva, in the Valencian Country, had arrived in Barcelona before the 1888 Universal Expo, and began working at the prestigious Escofet house, where he learned the trade of Mosaicist. We are at the time of the maximum splendor of modernism and cement tiles are one of the protagonists in the great buildings designed by the prestigious architects of the time, such as Domènech i Montaner, Puig i Cada-Falch or Gaudí. In that Manresa of the early 20th century, there were 7 workshops of cement tiles, being the one of Mosaics Martí the only one that has continued over the years. In 1931, Bernat Martí died, and his sons, Bernat, Ricard and Pere, followed in their father's footsteps and maintained the activity of Mosaics Martí, despite the difficult years that were approaching... advent of the Republic, Civil War, Post-war... But the ceemnt tiles began to lose the battle against other more industrial products, terrazzo, ceramics, stoneware..., despite this, the Martí family continued in the activity of construction materials, without renouncing its origins. And it was in the 80s, when the third generation, with the brothers Pere and Albert Martí, revived the production of cement tiles. Precisely, in 2004, Pere Martí received the Diploma of Master Mosaic Craftsman, in recognition of his professional work with the exercise of the profession for more than 25 years, within the Mosaics Martí workshop.- Note: Cement tiles it is called, Mosaico Hidráulico o Baldosa Hidráulica, in spanish language.