Cau Ferrat Museum

Exhibition "Gaudí & trencadís"

Image of the exhibition "Gaudí & trencadís"

Gaudí & trencadís

Creativity and Recycling

«Colour is life.» (Antoni Gaudí)

The trencadís mosaic is one of the images that best identify the architecture of Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926). In Catalonia and Valencia, walls have been covered with coloured tiles, a resource of great beauty and hygienic functionality, since the Middle Ages. Thanks to the proper use of ornamentation, architecture represented, throughout Modernisme (the Catalan Art Nouveau), the synthesis of all the arts, creating a rich combination of shapes, volumes, textures and colours.

Gaudí experimented with all kinds of materials, especially ceramics, replacing the popular look of traditional mosaic tiles with fragments resulting from irregular cutting. The cutting “breaks up” (“trenca” in Catalan) the tiles into fragments -hence the name trencadís. A large number of artisans, industrialists and bricklayers emerged around Gaudí, with the architect Josep M. Jujol (1879-1949) standing out among them. They all shared creative wealth and a love for recycling materials.

SPACES

<p><strong>The Legacy of Ancient Mosaics</strong></p>

<p><br />
Since the mid-nineteenth century, architects have been attracted to the beauty of the tile compositions on the walls of Spanish-Arabic buildings made with tiling, small pieces of regular-shaped ceramic pieces.</p>

<p>Gaudí’s trencadís was inspired by this type of covering, deconstructing regular geometry.</p>

<p>Having been born in Reus, he had the opportunity to see some samples in the cloister of Poblet Monastery that was still preserved on site.</p>

SPACE 1 Mosaic and its “Little Brother”, Trencadís. The Art of Fragmenting to Cr

SPACE 1 Mosaic and its “Little Brother”, Trencadís. The Art of Fragmenting to Create an Undivided Whole

<p style="margin-right:82px"><strong>The Entrance Pavilions of Torre Güell in Les Corts (Barcelona, 1884-1887). The </strong><strong>Decomposition of Regular Geometry</strong></p>

<p style="margin-right:62px">This complex was the first commission received by Gaudí from Eusebi Güell. The well-known dragon iron gate connects two buildings: the keeper’s residence and the stables. Gaudí used <em>trencadís</em> for the first time due to Mudejar influence, still combining regular geometric pieces and always using low-cost ceramic materials.</p>

SPACE 2 Evolution of Trencadís in Gaudí’s Work. Step by Step. Construction by Co

SPACE 2 Evolution of Trencadís in Gaudí’s Work. Step by Step. Construction by Construction

OBJECTS

L’ornament polychrome

Gaudi´s Fragment Evolution

<p><strong>Roman Mosaic</strong> (floors)</p>

<p>Marble. Mainly peninsular, such as white Macael marble or Rosso Levanto red marble, but sometimes of very reputable foreign origin, such as Belgium Black marble.</p>

<p style="margin-right:139px"><strong>Detail of the Casa Vicens floor </strong>Reduced-scale reproduction 30 x 30 cm</p>

<p>Production: Montse Agüero</p>

Different Types of Mosaic in M

Different Types of Mosaic in Modernisme: Roman, Venetian, Stone, Ceramic and the Trencadís Variant

Venetian Mosaic (mainly, verti

Venetian Mosaic (mainly, vertical surfaces)

Stone Mosaic (floors and verti

Stone Mosaic (floors and vertical surfaces)

Ceramic Mosaic (vertical surfa

Ceramic Mosaic (vertical surfaces)

Trencadís (vertical faces)

<p><strong>Hydraulic Mosaic </strong>(interior flooring)</p>

<p>Produced with three layers of cement of different grain sizes, the exposed layer creates the pattern with coloured cement. It was a very common application system in both simple and luxurious houses.</p>

<p style="margin-right:245px">20<sup>th</sup> century Original</p>

<p>20 x 20 cm</p>

Other Surface Coating Techniqu

Other Surface Coating Techniques Also Defined as Mosaic: Hydraulic and “Gres” Ceramic Stoneware Mosaic

Relief Tile or Shaved Tile (ex

Relief Tile or Shaved Tile (exterior flooring)

Gaudí Monochrome and Relief Hy

Gaudí Monochrome and Relief Hydraulic Mosaic (interior flooring)

“Gres” Ceramic Stoneware Mosai

“Gres” Ceramic Stoneware Mosaic (mainly, interior flooring)

“Gres” Ceramic Stoneware Mosai

“Gres” Ceramic Stoneware Mosaic (mainly, interior flooring)

Tiles (imitation marble)

These are the first pieces tha

These are the first pieces that go from tiles to fragments, creating the idea of trencadís. They go from a regular to an irregular cut.

Decorated Mortar

<p><strong>Samples of Materials</strong></p>

<p style="margin-right:19px">Recovered tiles, window glass, remnants of floor marble, fragments of porcelain objects and the vitrified sandstone layer inside lime kilns, form the catalogue of basic materials for Gaudí’s <em>trencadís</em>, that has already been outlined in this work.</p>

<p>Materials and original objects</p>

A Palace for the Güell Family

Recovered Tiles

<p style="margin-left:5px; margin-right:274px"><strong>Glass</strong></p>

<p style="margin-left:5px; margin-right:19px">Painted glass stuck to the mortar was used to create colours. This experiment caused the pieces to come off easily, so Gaudí avoided using this system again.</p>

<p style="margin-left:5px">Reproduction</p>

Torre Bellesguard (Barcelona,

Torre Bellesguard (Barcelona, 1900-1909). Stone, Cladding and Natural Resources

Stone Bearings Made in a Mould

Garden benches (c. 1902 - 1904

Garden benches (c. 1902 - 1904)

<p style="margin-left:3px"><strong>Main Façade Made of Glass and Ceramic</strong></p>

<p style="margin-left:2px; margin-right:41px">Coated in stained glass and custom-made circular ceramic pieces. The glass was applied following the colours of the circles, and the joints also changed colour.</p>

<p style="margin-left:3px">Reproduction</p>

<p style="margin-left:3px">50 x 50 cm / Ø 35, 27, 21, 15 cm</p>

<p>Production: Montse Agüero and Ceràmiques SOT</p>

Casa Batlló (Barcelona, 1904-1

Casa Batlló (Barcelona, 1904-1906). Fragments as the Units of the Organic Element

Stylised Flower

Glass ball with coloured sand

<p><strong>Disused Materials from One of the Moons</strong></p>

<p>Use of components for a new function. Ceramic scales, glass candlesticks, bottles of different colours, porcelain tableware or, even, a figure. Mirror shards were also used, increasing the reflection of light in an extraordinary way.</p>

<p>Materials and original objects</p>

Park Güell (Barcelona, 1900-19

Park Güell (Barcelona, 1900-1914). The Ceiling Lights in the Hypostyle Hall. Primitive Surrealism (1909)

<p><strong>Samples of Original Materials on the Bench</strong></p>

<p>Painted ceramic is one of the most unique elements. The motif is not obtained only through shapes and colours, as the tile itself is already decorated. Because of this, technical perfection is not sought, and the main priority is the expression obtained from the use of multiple combinations of materials.</p>

<p>Materials and original objects</p>

Park Güell (1900-1914). The Un

Park Güell (1900-1914). The Undulating Bench. The Colour Viewpoint over Barcelona (1909-1914)

<p style="margin-left:5px"><strong>Baked Materials </strong>(ceramic, porcelain)</p>

<p style="margin-left:5px; margin-right:5px">The difference in shades of white stands out. At that time, this colour was one of the most difficult to obtain, because the base of the enamel was always contaminated, resulting in different shades. This can be seen by comparing it with the pure white of the valuable china of the crockery.</p>

<p style="margin-left:5px">Original materials.</p>

Casa Milà Segimon, La Pedrera

Casa Milà Segimon, La Pedrera (Barcelona, 1906-1911). Shape Over Colour

Natural Materials (stone)

A Touch of Green

<p><strong>Recovery of Materials</strong></p>

<p>In this work, he used many previously dismissed works, ignoring the original use of the materials. For example, there are several fishes cut out on the ceramic circles of Casa Batlló.</p>

<p>Reproduction</p>

<p>Ø 21 cm</p>

<p>Production: Ceràmiques SOT</p>

Colònia Güell Church (1908-191

Colònia Güell Church (1908-1914). The Relevance of Essential Materials

Fish on the Walls

Unglazed Tile

<p style="margin-left:5px">In the Bell Towers...</p>

<p>Gaudí waited four years for his Venetian glass order to arrive so he could crown the first tower. His intention was to produce this material in Catalonia.</p>

<p>True-scale reproduction of one sphere, Venetian Mosaic and current “Gres” Ceramic</p>

<p>Ø 45 cm</p>

<p>Production: Montse Agüero; material loaned by the Basílica de la Sagrada Família</p>

<p style="margin-left:5px; margin-right:394px"> </p>

The Last Stop: The Sagrada Fam

The Last Stop: The Sagrada Família

MAP

INFORMATION

ADDRESS

C/ Fonollar, s/n
08870 Sitges (Garraf)

FEES

Admission € 5

Check discounts.

TELEPHONE

+34 93 894 03 64

WEBSITE

http://museusdesitges.cat

OPENING TIMES

MARICEL MUSEU

From November 6, 2021 to March 27, 2022

End of February 28, 2022

From dimarts to diumenge from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

From March 1

From dimarts to diumenge from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

GETTING HERE

FROM BARCELONA
- Own vehicle: C-32 to Exit 30 (Sitges Center).
- Train: Line R2 South from Estació de França.
- Coach: MonBus Line from Ronda Universitat.

FROM TARRAGONA
- Own vehicle: N-240, AP-7 and C-32 to Exit 30 (Sitges Center).
- Train: R15 or R16 from Tarragona Station and R2 from San Vicenç de Calders Station.
- Coach: MonBus Line from Plaça Imperial Tarraco and Plana Line from Plaça Eduard Maristany in Vilanova i la Geltrú.

FROM LLEIDA
- Own vehicle: Road LL-12, AP-2 and C-32 to Exit 30 (Sitges Center).

FROM GIRONA
- Own vehicle: C-65, AP-7, Ronda de Dalt and C-32 to Exit 30 (Sitges Center).

GPS COORDINATES
- Latitude: 41.234870 (41º 14' 5.53" N)
- Longitude: 1.812471 (1º 48 '44.9 "E)

EMAIL

museusdesitges@diba.cat