Antoni Gaudí is one of the most well-known architects in the world, famed for his stunning pieces that are mostly located in Barcelona. One of the most famous and visited, is the Casa Batlló – an iconic building and insight into the fantastical world of Gaudi’s incredible imagination.
Casa Batlló has won an incredible amount of awards over the years, including in the Creative Tourism Awards, the Hermes Creative Awards and the Museums+Heritage Awards. While these accolades showcase what a brilliant piece of architecture it is, you can’t quite get how fantastic it is until you visit yourself.
Located in Central Barcelona and easy to get to both by public transport and by foot, Casa Batlló is essentially a renovation of a previously built house. Gaudi redesigned it in 1904 and it has been refurbished several times since. It was commissioned by Josep Batllo, a wealthy aristocrat as an upmarket home and he lived in the lower two floors with his family.
The first thing you’ll notice upon arriving is the stunning facade of the house. Known as the ‘house of the dragon’ you can spot the stunning ceramic tiles in beautiful multicolour that decorate the outside. These are designed to form a wavy mantle reminiscent of a dragon’s back. Through Gaudi’s clever use of colourful mosaics and sculpted stone all down the building, it has the look of almost being alive and is one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture that has ever been created.
Once you step inside, the wonder doesn’t stop and only continues to amaze with each step you take. Each space within the home is designed to inspire and amaze from the moment you enter until the moment you leave. Step into the grand entrance hall which contains sea and marine life motifs and an underwater environment complete with skylights that resemble turtle shells and a wooden staircase reminiscent of the backbone of an animal.
There is the Noble Floor, which is where Josep Batllo stayed and this consists of a dining hall, private landing and bedroom as well as the largest room in the house where an enormous picture window takes you to the gallery into Paseo de Gracia. The whole home utilises light to its maximum potential, with proportional natural light entering from double patios. These have ceramic and glass coated walls which enable the light to enter evenly and cause the most majestic glow throughout.
Other areas of interest include the indoor garden, the loft and the stunning roof. It’s here where you can really see the dragon back design of the roof and the detail that went into making the space resemble a real animal. Colourful and utterly beautiful, it’s a fine example of Gaudi’s incredible talent.
If you’re someone that loves the intricate detailing and abstract use of colour that Gaudi provides, the Casa Batllo is an effortless choice to visit when in Barcelona. A truly stunning spot where you can spend hours meandering through the different rooms, you’ll leave feeling inspired and in awe of what you’ve seen.
