Nicolau Baucells Bordas

Restoring historical beauty

• Nicolau grew up surrounded by traditional lime decorations
• His first project was at Catalunya’s beautiful Parliament House
• Sgraffito is his specialised technique

Nicolau Baucells began his schooling at Centro Albayzin in Granada with Master Fernando Tejero. His degree studies to become a technician in the restoration of artistic and cultural heritage was based on various regional and national traditional techniques. After school and following Francisco Tejero's advice, he went to Barcelona and became an apprentice at the Campreciós family’s workshop, one of the three families of stucco artists that still remain in that city. Josep María and Joan Campreciós were his masters and have exerted the greatest influence on his work. Although his techniques are purely traditional, innovation comes into Nicolau’s sgraffito through the drawings which sometimes deviate from the patterns of Art Nouveau to more contemporary shapes.

Interview

©Michelangelo Foundation

©Michelangelo-Foundation

Where do you work?

I split my time between two places: the first is Ibiza where the simple architecture softens the details of this craft. The other one is Barcelona where I’m obliged to focus closely on the techniques as the architectural methods practiced in this city are more technical and complex.

What do you like best about you work?

I love the study of what I’m going to do, the research steps prior to starting a new project and the preparation. But then I also love the making part and seeing the work finished. In this craft there are many hours of hard work to learn, they're not visible, but they make the difference.

How would you describe your work?

I would describe my work as simple, defined, and clean. Many hours of dedication and work have allowed me to be skillful and to know well the ways and techniques that lead to a proper and professional result.

How do you define something that is "well made"?

To me something is well made when it does not stop me from sleeping soundly. It is rewarding when the outcome is excellent, and I feel satisfied when I’m proud of my work.

Nicolau Baucells Bordas is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2005

Where