Beatriz del Cueto
Concrete Block and Hydraulic Cement Floor Tile in the Tropics
Ms. del Cueto’s project will survey and explore the use of highly ornamental hollow-core concrete block and hydraulic cement floor tile and mosaics used in tropical architecture during the early 20th century. Structures from this period that have survived are mostly neglected, and ultimately demolished for lack of historic relevance or as a result of ever-changing architectural tastes. Focusing on Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic, Ms. del Cueto will engage in a study to better understand the significant role these architectural elements played in the tropics, surveying extant examples and advocating for their preservation. Ms. del Cueto will also propose specifications and recommendations for the appropriate intervention of these materials.
