Casa Batllo, Barcelona

Casa Batllo, Barcelona

Casa Batlló is one of Antoni Gaudí’s masterpieces that exemplified his personal take on the Catalan Modernisme and Art Nouveau movements.

Casa Batlló is one of Antoni Gaudí’s masterpieces that exemplified his personal take on the Catalan Modernisme and Art Nouveau movements. Originally built in Emilio Sala Cortés' Classical style by commission of Lluís Sala Sánchez, it was remodeled by Gaudi in 1904-'06 after the house was bought by Josep Batllo. Nicknamed as Casa dels Ossos (House of Bones) for its façade that appears to be made of bones and skulls, the landmark building stands out for its radical design and bold quirks. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the 'Works of Antoni Gaudí'.

The Montjuïc sandstone façade has curved surfaces covered with multicolored trencadís. It has 3 distinct sections – the base has bone-shaped columns with plant representations, the main part is an abstract riot of color with ivory colored projecting balconies resembling water lilies in a pond, and the vaulted roof has catenary arches scaled with glazed ceramic tiles like the back of a dragon. The turret rising along the centre of the façade's left half terminates in a cross atop a bulbous dome, representing the lance of Saint George, the patron saint of Catalonia who slayed the dragon.

The building has a ground floor, a main 'noble' floor with a courtyard, 4 other self-contained floors, a loft and a roof terrace. The noble floor is accessed through a private entrance hall with skylights resembling tortoise shells and vaulted wavy walls. It has the study, dining room, and a main hall with stained glass windows. The walls of the inner courtyard are covered in blue ceramic tiles creating a dreamy ambience. The service loft, which had the laundry rooms and storage areas, features a series of 60 white catenary arches evocative of the ribcage of an animal. It has an exhibition with holograms on the life and works of Gaudí.