Casa Batlló is a building in the center of Barcelona on the Passeig de Gràcia. Designed by Antoni Gaudí, it is considered one of his masterpieces. It was a remodel of a previously built house, redesigned by Gaudí in 1904 and refurbished several times since. The ground floor features unusual tracery, irregular oval windows, and sculpted stonework with sinuous, squiggly forms.
The exterior is notable for its lack of straight lines, with much of the façade decorated with a colorful mosaic made of broken ceramic tiles, a technique known as trencadís. These mosaics were made from broken tile shards collected from the dumpsters of other construction sites. This design reflects an eco-political awareness, repurposing upcycled scrap materials and byproducts from industry.
In 1904, textile industrialist Josep Batlló hired Gaudí to design his home. While Batlló originally wanted to tear down the existing building, Gaudí convinced him that a renovation was sufficient. The building was finished and refurbished in 1906. During this process, Gaudí expanded the central well in order to supply light to the whole building and added new floors.
The interior is characterized by its biomorphic aesthetic, which has earned the building the local name Casa dels ossos, or House of Bones. The main floor is accessed through a private entrance hall with skylights resembling tortoise shells and vaulted walls in curving shapes. It features a dining room, a study, and a secluded spot for courting couples with a mushroom-shaped fireplace.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
Discuss this with the author and others
No comments yet. Be the first to start the conversation.