Resaltes

Resaltes refers to a class of architectural wall features characterized by outward projection from a building's facade. These projecting elements, which can range from shallow cornices to more sculptural reliefs, are used to articulate rhythm, cast shadows, and emphasize corners or sections of a façade.

The term derives from the verb resaltar, meaning to highlight, and is used in architectural discourse in Iberian and Latin American contexts to describe wall projections that create visual emphasis. In practice, resaltes help define the visual language of a building and can contribute to how a structure reads in street-scale perspectives.

Typical forms include simple projections such as cornices or corbels, as well as stepped profiles or decorative relief panels. They can be constructed from stone, brick, concrete, or metal cladding, and are often designed with considerations for drainage, weathering, and maintenance. Materials and detailing range from robust, load-bearing configurations to lightweight, non-structural treatments that prioritize aesthetics.

Functions of resaltes include structural support for overhanging sections (where applicable) and ornamental expression. In contemporary practice, many resaltes are used to shade windows, define horizontal and vertical rhythm, and reinforce a material or historical vocabulary on a façade.

Regional use and variations: resaltes appear in historic Mediterranean, Iberian, and Latin American architecture, where projecting courses and reliefs contribute to skyline identity. In modern design, resaltes are employed to modulate light, create deliberate shadow lines, and articulate material language without dominating the overall form.

See also: relief sculpture, projecting cornice, corbel, façade architecture.