Starting Point of the Arabic-Andalusi Influence in Gaudi’s Ornamental Ceramic

A key insight into Antoni Gaudí's innovative use of ceramic in his early works (1884–1887) reveals that his decorative technique, known as trencadís, was inspired by Arabic-Andalusi (Mudejar) architecture but transformed through fragmentation. This study identifies the Güell Stables and Porterhouse in Les Corts as pivotal constructions where Gaudí adapted ceramic embedding to create a distinct visual contrast with brick and stone, foreshadowing his later iconic designs like Casa Batlló's façade and Park Güell's dragon-balustrade. The research examines how Gaudí's reinterpretation of Mudejar techniques—breaking ceramics into irregular shapes (trencadís)—became a signature element of his ornamental style, bridging traditional Islamic influences with modernist innovation.

Freixa, M., & Saliné, M. (2022). Starting Point of the Arabic-Andalusi Influence in Gaudi’s Ornamental Ceramic. Manazir Journal, 3, 131–144. https://doi.org/10.36950/manazir.2021.3.9