If there is one thing Gaudí’s works are known for, apart from the originality of his architectural designs, it is the use of the trencadís technique. trencadís as a tribute to nature. Maybe you don’t know what it is because of the name, but I’m sure you are familiar with the kind of vibrant colored mosaics that are very characteristic of their projects. And of course, the trencadís in the Sagrada Familia cannot be missed. Let’s see what this technique consists of and where you can admire it by visiting this fantastic temple.
What is trencadís
The trencadís mosaic is a technique used in structural cladding that consists of using pieces of irregular materials such as ceramic, glass or marble, joined together with mortar. It can be similar to a mosaic, with the difference that for the trencadís. The pieces must be randomly divided, while for the mosaic the tesserae were formed by regular shapes.
Trencadís Gaudí is a distinctive mosaic technique that Antoni Gaudí popularized in many of his architectural masterpieces in Barcelona. The term “trencadís” means “broken” in Catalan, which perfectly describes this unique method. Trencadís involves the use of broken ceramic tiles, glass, and other materials to create intricate and colorful patterns on surfaces.
Gaudí’s use of this technique can be seen in numerous landmarks, such as Park Güell and the Sagrada Família. By incorporating trencadís, Gaudí not only recycled materials but also achieved vibrant, organic designs that seamlessly blend with natural forms. The use of trencadís exemplifies Gaudí’s innovative approach to architecture, merging functionality with artistic expression. This method allows for the creation of fluid, dynamic surfaces that reflect light in captivating ways, enhancing the overall aesthetic and sensory experience of his works. Trencadís Gaudí remains a symbol of his ingenuity and lasting influence on modernist architecture.
The authentic trencadís was made without a previous initial sketch, being a spontaneous and creative technique at the same time. Within Catalan modernism, where it was a movement that was deeply inspired by nature, the trencadís of Gaudí stands out for the search for color, vigor and movement that produced his designs using all kinds of recycled or reused materials for it. In addition, it was a perfect technique to use in the shapes he designed, since curved shapes predominated and straight alignments were avoided at all times.
In his designs, the choice of bright and cheerful colors predominated, able to bring light, energy and dynamism to his works.combining different techniques and materials, with the purpose of producing diverse effects. Examples of the use of this technique can be found in several of his works, such as the entrance to the Güell estate, La Pedrera or Casa Batlló.
The trencadís in the Sagrada Familia
The trencadís in the Sagrada Familia can be found both inside and outside, although the most significant pieces are those located in the towers.
In order to maximize the visual effect of the bell towers, are finished with pinnacles covered with trencadís made from pieces of polychrome glass from the island of Murano, near Venice, also known as Venetian glass.
Curiously, the pieces corresponding to the Nativity façade, which was the only part of the church built by Gaudí, have not given the same problems of fastening as those corresponding to the Passion façade, built in the 1970s. According to the current architect of the works, Jordi Bonet, both the conglomerate used in the towers of the Passion, as well as the current one used for the execution of the trencadís has little fixing capacity, as evidenced by the pieces that have fallen off lately.
The use of trencadís in the Sagrada Familia interested Gaudí for several reasons:
- For its great optical effect: The reflection of the sun’s rays on the ceramics gave it a character of movement and naturalness, like any living element that can be found in nature. On the other hand, the liveliness in its colors offers joy and more in an urban construction.
- Improvisation: According to the story, one day when Gaudí visited the workshop of the ceramist Lluís Bru, he expressed great impatience when he saw the slowness in the placement of the pieces. It seems that he picked up a tile and smashing it on the floor, exclaimed: “They have to be put in handfuls, or we will never finish.“. And one of the things that characterize this modernist technique is the possibility of performing it with total improvisation, being a spontaneous and totally creative process.
- For recycling: Pioneer in many things, Gaudí already showed his interest in the use of reused elements, as reflected in the use he made of used materials he found in the streets or on his walks along the beach.
- Because of its adaptability: Unlike classic mosaics designed to cover flat surfaces, trencadís is a very
trencadís is valid for all types of surfaces due to its adaptability and flexibility. And we already know how important curved and voluptuous forms were for Gaudí.
Now that you know what trencadís is You will surely be able to observe it in several places of the Sagrada Familia. Apart from the towers, you can find it in the interior vaults, in the apse and in the sacristy. And I am sure that on the façade of the Gloria, the next one to be erected, when we can admire it, some trencadís we can find.
It is possible to admire the trencadís in the Sagrada Familia from any point in Barcelona, since all you have to do is look up to the sky and find the pinnacles of any of its fantastic towers. Another proof of the brilliant modernism that Gaudí conceived in terms of his designs and a visual gift to the skyline of Barcelona.
