Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Ceramic-Clad Chimney Stack and Polychromatic Trencadís Ornament of Casa Batlló by Antoni Gaudí

2064

High Catalan Modernisme, 1904–1906

A chimney cluster and ventilation terminal from the rooftop terrace of Casa Batlló, designed by Antoni Gaudí and completed 1904–1906. The chimney terminal features a flared, helmet-like sculptural cap with undulating organic edges, its surface divided into zones of contrasting geometric shapes. Symmetrical four-petal floral glyphs in cobalt blue, sunny yellow, and emerald green are anchored within an asymmetric field of random multicolored mosaic shards assembled from recycled glazed tile fragments. The varied thickness of hand-pressed tile fragments, raised mortar lines, and the physical undulation of the cap's form create intense three-dimensional relief depth, producing a dramatic chiaroscuro under sunlight with deep shadows in the mortar creases and glossy glazed surfaces catching dynamic highlights.