Since 1860, when an ambitious urban plan in Barcelona was adopted, which was known as the Cerdà Plan, Paseo de Gracia has been the backbone of the city, and the most significant families in the city have begun to take up house here. For this reason, the street was transformed into a promenade for walkers and horse-drawn carriages throughout the 19th century. Beginning in the 20th century, it was transformed into a primary thoroughfare for automobiles.
At the time, when there was still no electric light in Barcelona, the building was initially constructed in the year 1877 by Emilio Sala Cortés, who was one of Gaudí’s professors of architecture. A notable businessman and textile industrialist, Mr. Josep Batlló y Casanovas, purchased the property in 1903. He was also the owner of other companies in Barcelona at the time of the purchase.
An interior full of art
Casa Batlló is a work of art on the inside. Working with a variety of materials, including wood, stained glass, ceramic tiles, stone ornamentation, wrought iron, and others, Gaudí cooperated with the top artists of his time.
The attention to detail is mind-blowing as you visit the mansion. Modernist lettering identifies the entrances to the several units. Each landing’s window distorts the lightwell tiles, turning them into lovely water ripples. An ergonomic design is evident in the doorknobs and banisters… The artist has put their hand to every part of it, from the design to the colors to the shapes to the space and light, making it a genuine work of art.
Surprisingly, this boundless energy is always grounded in practicality, which is something that will never stop astounding you. From the foyer all the way to the rooftop terrace, the structure seamlessly blends form and function.
Indoor garden
The private dining room of the Batlló family, which is situated in the middle of the Noble Floor, provides access to a private rear courtyard. This courtyard is a small oasis in the middle of the city, and it was constructed specifically for the Batlló family to enjoy in the afternoon. The paving, as well as the tile and glass-coated flower pots that serve as the primary decorative features in this area, are the most notable aspects of this place.
The Noble Floor
The Noble Floor is at the very heart of the house, with a unique hall that represents the maximum expression of modernism, explaining how the bourgeoisie of the time lived.
The first room they reach on this floor is Mr Batlló’s study and an interesting mushroom-shaped fireplace. This leads to the house’s main living room, where a large picture window takes centre stage, forming a gallery onto Paseo de Gracia, which is ideal to see and be seen. Among other elements, the huge oak doors are particularly noteworthy, with organic shapes into which Gaudí incorporated stained glass panes and a totally wavy ceiling, which evokes the strength of the sea.
Lightwell
The lightwell is a fundamental part of the house, as it distributes the air and light that enter through the main skylight. Gaudí extended the patio (there was one and he included a second) to ensure that natural light would reach all of the rooms of the house. He also decorated it with tiles of different blue tones (with more intense colour in the upper part and lighter tiles at the bottom) in order to ensure the uniform distribution of the light.
Following this same logic, the upper windows are smaller and they become bigger as they descend (allowing more light to enter). The lower windows have wooden slits which can be opened or closed for ventilation control.
Gaudí installed the lift in the centre of the lightwell. Its beautiful original wooden lift car is still in use today.
Roof terrace
The roof terrace is dominated by the iconic feature of the façade, the dragon’s back, which Gaudí depicted using tiles of various colors.
But the four crooked chimney stacks, made of polychrome and intended to ward off backdraughts, are the roof terrace’s most striking feature.
At the most stunning and representative house of Catalan modernism, form and function are harmoniously combined once again.
Conclusion
Casa Batlló is one of the most vivid representatives of the atmosphere of Barcelona and at the same time, it is a perfect example of the works by Antoni Gaudí. The more you will explore its complexity, colors and curves, you will be navigating through the world where architecture and painting are one. Casa Batlló is a great place to visit which will fascinate every person interested in the history of architecture and design and inspire everyone who wants to create. During your trip through the center of Catalonia, take time to be stunned by this architectural marvel.
