Reviving Collaboration: Seeking a Place for Artistry in Mass-Produced Building Elements

Azulejo Tiles in Portugal. Image © Maremagnum/Getty ImagesHistorically, architecture has served as a canvas for artistic expression. Building elements have been adorned with relief-carved garlands, inscriptions, fresco murals, portrait busts, and classicizing figurative sculptures, all of which emphasize the unique and intentional nature of each component. However, the industrialization of the 19th century brought about a shift in ideals, that stripped architectural components of their deco