Casa Batlló

Gaudí intervened comprehensively in the building, transforming both its interior structure and functional layout as well as its exterior appearance. The renovation included dismantling the façade up to the third floor, adding two storeys and a rooftop, and a complete reorganisation of the interior spaces. The main floor, intended as the owner’s residence, became the building’s most emblematic area, with a gallery supported by organically shaped columns that evoke bone structures and large windows that encourage the entry of natural light.

One of the key aspects of the project is the study of light and ventilation. Gaudí unified the two existing inner courtyards into a single space and placed the main staircase there. The courtyard walls are clad with ceramic tiles featuring a chromatic gradient, with darker tones at the top and lighter tones below, to regulate the capture and reflection of light. In addition, the size of the windows decreases progressively as the floors rise, ensuring balanced lighting throughout the building. On the main floor, Gaudí incorporated a lower ventilation system, with vertical openings protected by wooden grilles, allowing air renewal without the need to open the windows completely.

The façade stands out for its covering of ceramic and glass fragments using the trencadís technique, which gives the building a strong chromatic and dynamic character. The iron balconies, mass-produced yet highly expressive in form, reinforce this sense of organic movement.

The remodelling is completed with an attic intended for communal services, built with parabolic arches, and a rooftop featuring four groups of chimneys decorated with polychrome trencadís and floral motifs. These architectural and ornamental solutions establish Casa Batlló as a key work from Gaudí’s creative maturity, immediately preceding the construction of La Pedrera - Casa Milà.

Casa Batlló forms part of the so-called “Block of Discord” (popularly known as “Mansana de la Discòrdia” in Catalan), a group of Modernisme buildings on Passeig de Gràcia that also includes Casa Amatller and Casa Lleó Morera, exemplifying the richness and diversity of Catalan Modernisme (Art Nouveau).

Casa Batlló has been declared a Historic-Artistic Monument (BCIN category) since 1969 and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005 as part of the Works of Antoni Gaudí.