Discovering Casa Batllo Architecture: A Tour Through Gaudí's Barcelona Masterpiece

Antoni Gaudi’s soul lives on through Casa Batllo. Made by the Spanish architect in 1906, Casa Batllo reimagined buildings and what they represent, setting a benchmark that has inspired millions of structures worldwide.

Casa Batllo Architectural Style

Nature and faith strongly influenced Antoni Gaudi, the chief architect of Casa Batllo. The building is a Modernisme masterpiece, with colorful mosaics and irregular curves that somehow blend well. Casa Batllo’s balconies are also a step away from the Renaixença, or Catalan Renaissance movement prevalent at the time. Gaudi and the other architects thought little of symmetry while designing the building, yet its disfigurement has an undeniable charisma. The ceramic tiles atop the roof look like dragon scales, adding another layer of wonder to the Casa Batllo.

Stages of Construction

Original Casa Batlló

Casa Batllo had a beginning before Antoni Gaudi turned it into a masterpiece. A wealthy family bought the property, with Emilio Sala Cortés designing the Casa Batllo in the 1870s. Thanks to the approval of an urban plan, Paseo de Gracia became a prominent street, increasing the demand for the land where Casa Batllo sits. Cortés, who was Gaudi’s professor at the School of Architecture, designed a modern structure despite the limitations of the time. Electric light wasn’t present in Barcelona, but Cortés managed to design a decent building in 1877.

Gaudi Steps in

Josep Batlló I Casanovas, a prominent industrialist and businessman, purchased the Casa Batllo property in 1900. He had a unique vision for the building and recognized Antoni Gaudi as the man to make it happen. Gaudi had a sizable reputation at the same and began working on the property starting in 1904. He completed the renovation in two years, transforming his professor’s design into a marvelous building with lots of color and unique architectural elements like broken ceramics. The Modernisme style used by Gaudi set the stage for a new architectural movement in the 20th century.

Post Gaudi Period

The 1930s was a tumultuous period for Casa Batllo. Its owner, Josep Batllo, died in 1934, and the building suffered severe blows in the Spanish Civil War. After the war, the Batllo family sold the property in the 1950s, with several owners living in the building until the 1990s. Candy company Chupa Chups bought the home, carrying out restorations and restoring the building to its former glory. The property was opened to the public in 2002, giving them a close-up view of its majestic architecture and interior. Casa Batllo was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.