Urban staircase

A striking public staircase in the city of Teruel rises as a welcoming landmark, conceived as an urban threshold that blends into its surroundings, embraces pedestrians, and establishes a dialogue with the natural landscape.

For this intervention, architect Ángel Villarroya Algás placed his trust in the aesthetic and technical potential of the Terracina model, combining Sienna and Umber tones in various formats to create an entrance with a truly unique character.

Inspired by clay, this finish offers a warm and authentic texture that harmonizes with the surrounding nature and with Teruel’s characteristic palette.

Concept and Materiality

The grand staircase is envisioned as a transitional space—a visual and sensorial journey guiding visitors toward an atmosphere of serenity and contemplation. Within this approach, materiality plays a decisive role.

The Terracina model, in its Sienna–Umber palette, evokes the earth and its nuances, ensuring a natural integration with the earthy and reddish tones of the environment. Its surface, rich in texture and variation, interacts with light and shadow, adding depth and a timeless character.

The range of selected formats allows the ascent to be articulated rhythmically, distinguishing platforms, steps, and areas of transition. This interplay of dimensions brings dynamism and accompanies the progression of the path.

Integration with the Environment

Located in a setting where city and nature coexist, the staircase draws inspiration from the surrounding landscape and reinterprets it through a contemporary lens. The Sienna and Umber colors reflect the patina of the terrain, the hue of clay, and the chromatic variations of the local stone.

Beyond its resistance and suitability for intensive public use, the ceramic paving serves as a mediating element between the new access point and the environment. Its warm presence avoids the harshness often associated with large urban interventions, fostering an emotional connection with the place.

Outcome and Experience

The result is an iconic access point that redefines arrival to this enclave in the city of Teruel. The choice of Terracina Sienna–Umber provides continuity with the landscape, visual solidity, and a discreet elegance that reinforces the identity of this public work.

The intervention is located at the entrance to Teruel’s municipal cemetery, where the staircase takes on a particularly meaningful role: it accentuates the transition toward a space of reflection and calm, accompanying visitors through a respectful and harmonious material language.

This project demonstrates how ceramic surfaces can transform a public access into an integrated, serene, and memorable landmark—enhancing both the urban experience and the relationship with the surrounding environment.