Machuca Tile
Machuca Tile Inc., originally called Mosaicos Machuca, was the oldest tile manufacturing business in the Philippines, dating back to late 1900s. Baldozas mosaicos was the proper term describing the Mediterranean cement tiles, more popular at present as Machuca tiles, named after Don Pepe, son of the premier producer of baldozas mosaicos in the Philippines, Don Jose Machuca y Romero.[1]
History
Don Jose Machuca y Romero was the primary producer of Mediterranean tiles in the Philippines during the late 1900s. His son, Don Pepe, who was an Audencia, established Mosaicos Machuca at an ancestral house in Calle Tanduay in San Miguel, Manila while the tile factory was located beside Pasig River. They pioneered wet and dry processes of making Mediterranean-designed cement tiles in the Philippines.[1]
At present, Machuca Tiles Inc. was managed by Mrs. Vivian P. Machuca, belonging to the third generation of the Machuca family. She was the wife of the Luisito, son of Don Jose Machuca y Sanchez and Doña Juana Machuca y Arrieta.[1]
Location
In 1993, the showroom of Machuca Tile Inc. was transferred to its present location at the ground floor of J y J Condominium, #867 General Solano Street, San Miguel, Manila. On the other hand, their factory was located at Lot 17 Marian Park, Road I, East Service Road, South Superhighway, Parañaque.[1]
Machuca Tiles
Machuca tiles were not baked, thus, it is cured using Lansco powder from Spain, to achieve its traditional earth tone palette. Its rustic look was characterized by intricate border motifs and muted colors with hand-brushed quality and sophisticated palettes.[2]
The standard size of the tiles was 8 in. by 8 in. (200 mm by 200 mm).
Tiles could be designed two ways:
- Continuous ribbon-like (bands)
- Enclosed spaces (panels)
- Unlimited flat patterns
Projects
Religious and Institutional
- San Vicente de Paul by Andres Luna de San Pedro
- San Sebastian Church Sacristy
- San Beda Church
- Colegio San Agustin
Commercial
- Alabang Town Center
- Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort
- Cabalen Chain of Restaurants
- Hacienda Luisita
- Jai Alai
- The Pavilion Restaurant, Alegre Beach Resort, Cebu - a joint project of Architect Augusto Villalon and Interior designer Josephine Labrador Hermano [2]
Residential
- Atelier of Patis Tesoro
- Ancestral residence of former President Jose Laurel
- Residence of former Cultural Center of the Philippines Artistic Director, Nicanor Tiongson
- Residence of Lulu Tan Gan, a fashion designer