Acera de l'eixample de Barcelona con las baldosas panot

The panot or the rajola of Barcelona

March 10, 2022

History of panot

Panot was used as tiles in the modernist era for the sidewalks of the city of Barcelona.

Designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch , it was used to pave many streets in Barcelona , especially in the Eixample area . In Barcelona there are more than twenty different types of tiles, although only one has become a symbol of the city, the " panot de flor", one of the most widespread and with the most history.

The panot is a 20 x 20 cm concrete piece. Its most important characteristics are its resistance and its easy maintenance. The tile began to be used to solve the problems caused by mud in the city at the beginning of the 20th century. The chaotic situation in the Eixample neighbourhood was the reason why the tiles were created. Before their appearance, each neighbour paved the two and a half metres in front of their house with the materials provided by the town hall. This disorder in the streets was resolved thanks to the appearance of the panot .

In 1906, five tile models were established: the flower tile, the skull tile, the concentric circle tile, the four-piece tile and the four-piece tile with four circles. Today, some of the models have been discontinued due to low demand and the "flower tile" has been used, making it the most symbolic tile.

On the other hand, this tile was years later the origin of the very similar design of the well-known Bilbao tile , which is also a symbol of the city. The design incorporated modifications to adapt it to the rainy climate of Bilbao.

The design of the tile shows a four-petal flower in negative relief, created by the modernist architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch. The origin of these is found in the Casa Amatller , located on Passeig de Gracia . The tiles are located at the entrance to the building, where the lords of the house entered in horse-drawn carriages. It was then that the "panot de flor" began an architectural revolution.

Currently, the most common type is the chocolate tile, although due to its unattractive design, Barcelona City Council has decided to replace it with flower tiles, which have become a trademark of the city.