Over 20,000 square metres of mosaic will form the cladding of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía

The mosaic, or “trencadís”, made up of uneven fragments of ceramic tile that create an irridescence and a multitude of visual effects when touched by the Light, is the second most used material in the Palau de les Arts, after the white concrete that makes up the main structural support system.

This system of decoration, which consists in covering surfaces with glazed ceramic and which has been supplied by a company based in the Valencia region, will provide the cladding for the two shells of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, constructed in laminated steel weighing approximately 3,000 tonnes and forming the exterior surface of the building.

The mosaic is made up of uneven fragments of blue and white ceramic tile fit together to form a single unit. It is also found in other areas such as the interior of the Main Hall and the exterior walls of the stage area, the outside of the auditorium and the restaurant, as well as the external lay-out and access areas. Both the exterior wall of the restaurant and the interior of the Main Hall have been clad in cobalt blue mosaic, the same as that of the glass roof tiles commonly found on the cupolas of Valencian churches.

The use of this material, so characteristic of the architecture of Santiago Calatrava and his work at the City of Art and Sciences, not only gives coherence and visual homogeneity between the Palau de les Arts and the rest of the complex (L´Hemisfèric, L´Umbracle, the Science Museum and the surrounding of the water sheets) but also protects the building from the effects of the weather and changes of temperature, preventing rust and warping.