-- Shocking World --

Restored and remodeled by the Spanish modernist architect Antoni Gaudi in the years 1905-1907, Casa Batllo is now one the most overlooked buildings by the tourists who visit Barcelona. Although Casa Batllo is a museum now, Gaudi designed it for for a wealthy Barcelona Aristocrat.

The local name for the building is Casa dels ossos (House of Bones), and indeed it does have a visceral, skeletal organic quality.






Close up of Casa Batllo chimney :: Photo Credit: WikiMedia

Casa Batllo's roof has been compared to a reptilian creature, the backbone of a gigantic dinosaur, the dragon killed by St. George (Sant Jordi being the patron saint of Catalan)..


Casa Batllo roof :: Photo Credit: Klaus Dolle

It seems that the goal of the designer was to avoid straight lines completely. Much of the facade is decorated with a mosaic made of broken ceramic tiles that starts in shades of golden orange moving into greenish blues.


Casa Batllo arched roof :: Photo Credit: WikiMedia


Casa Batllo building, Barcelona :: Photo Credit: Fran Barrero


Casa Batllo arched roof and complex chimney detailing :: Photo Credit: WikiMedia


From the balconies resembling the bones of animals to the scale like surface of the front facade, the building is a tour de force of an artist reaching the peak of his powers. At night the floodlit facade has an iridescence like the scales of a fish. This polychromic finish is known as trencads.
Casa Batllo, Barcelona in HDR:: Photo Credit: MorBCN



The enlarged windows on the first floor gave it another nickname, 'House of Yawns'.
Casa Batllo window, Barcelona :: Photo Credit: WikiMedia


Window detail of Caso Batllo building :: Photo Credit: shapeshift
Casa Batllo Interior Design


Inside Caso Batllo :: Photo Credit: (Erik)


Inside Caso Batllo :: Photo Credit: acastellano


Inside Caso Batllo :: Photo Credit: 3dom


Caso Batllo: Spiral Design :: Photo Credit: 3dom


Caso Batllo: Spiral Design :: Photo Credit: Mini Anna



Caso Batllo lobby :: Photo Credit: Kipourax