The Alhambra Tiling Project

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The Alhambra Tiling Project We are a community art project based in Beckenham, Kent who work mostly with primary school children.

Our objectives are to encourage the development of manual dexterity & the revival of practical skills as an adjunct to the National Curriculum for schools, stimulating mental capacity. Community cohesion is fostered in this instance by means of purposeful activities celebrating the spirit of 'Unity Within Diversity' & the harmonic motif of symmetry encapsulated in the ancient craftmanship of El Andalus. We do this through the exploration of the medium of clay - specifically tile making but incorporating other traditional pottery techniques too. These are conveyed by means of accessible workshops, exhibitions, open days & other related events. These involve people from a wide range of social groups & employ a modular educational format.

Work in progress - TRUCHET:1704
18/08/2026

Work in progress - TRUCHET:1704

Just some of the tools and stuff required to make this little cutter (it still needs a bit of tweaking). This represent...
01/09/2025

Just some of the tools and stuff required to make this little cutter (it still needs a bit of tweaking). This represents the culmination of a lot of trial and error, working towards an ideal production method for an enormous batch of tiles commissioned by the Museum of Mathematics in New York. I will post more pictures of the samples this thing makes when finally assembled, and, no, they're not just squares!

I'm trying to make two lttle block-cutters for the new MOMath project. These are small enough to be near the limit of ph...
06/08/2025

I'm trying to make two lttle block-cutters for the new MOMath project. These are small enough to be near the limit of physical possibility, with very little room for human error, so the chances are I'll get them wrong, how ever much I persevere.

Nevertheless, an alternative approach has now emerged (from the gifted mind of my assistant, Matt), which looks to be more economical as well as simpler and more accurate,
so, one way or the other, we should be able to start production within about a week.

Community Links in Bromley have spread the word to their network of volunteers, and several people are now standing by. If you are one of them, please call me on 0779 260 7252 for an update, and to arrange an introductory meeting at the Studio in Beckenham.

Winning entry for international competition sponsored by the Museum of Mathematics in new york.
19/07/2025

Winning entry for international competition sponsored by the Museum of Mathematics in new york.

The Studio doors.
27/04/2024

The Studio doors.

Pots by Mat and Bella.
03/01/2024

Pots by Mat and Bella.

Mat's alternative method: work in progress.
03/01/2024

Mat's alternative method: work in progress.

Alchemy. The troops are being called to order.
09/09/2023

Alchemy. The troops are being called to order.

Oxford University sample tiles, with cutter in the foreground. Design by David Smith, who I was pleased to meet there.Th...
31/07/2023

Oxford University sample tiles, with cutter in the foreground. Design by David Smith, who I was pleased to meet there.
The more we have of these, the more the pattern (or the lack of it) will be revealed!

Experimental ceramic mono-tile, designed by mathematician David Smith, cut by Garnet, and fired and laid out by Mat Tayl...
17/07/2023

Experimental ceramic mono-tile, designed by mathematician David Smith, cut by Garnet, and fired and laid out by Mat Taylor. Follow this page to see where this is going; first stop Oxford University on Fri.

Address

1A. Balgowan Road
Beckenham

Telephone

07792607252

Website

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