Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Polychromatic Ceramic Four-Armed Cross Pinnacle of Casa Batlló by Antoni Gaudí

2070

High Catalan Modernisme, 1904–1906

The polychromatic ceramic four-armed cross and globe pinnacle at the summit of the main tower of Casa Batlló, designed by Antoni Gaudí and completed 1904–1906. The cross rises from the apex of the sinuous organic roofscape on a twisted ceramic-clad shaft, its four arms each terminated in a large spherical globe finial in cobalt blue, emerald green, and amber. The cross shaft and arms are clad in dense trencadís of white and gold ceramic fragments, with polychromatic accents following the arm lengths. The cross introduces the only rectilinear geometry into the otherwise entirely curvilinear building composition, yet its ceramic cladding, irregular shard surfaces, and organic globe terminals visually assimilate it into the building's biomorphic system. Under direct sunlight, the globe finials catch brilliant reflections and the trencadís surfaces produce intense scintillating light across the summit of the building.