Last week our class had the pleasure to take a look inside Casa Batlló. When stepping into the house you feel the magic of the art and architecture consume you. Casa Batlló is a famous house in Barcelona, Spain that was designed by Antoni Gaudi, the city’s famous architect. It is located on Passeig de Gracia and is an extremely popular tourist attraction. The architectural style that is prominent throughout Gaudi’s work is the Catalan Modernisme. While the building was constructed in 1877, Gaudi completely transformed the house in 1904 into a living work of art. This house is an example of how architecture and art can combine into one to tell a story.
Casa Batllo is a five-story house with various rooms, each one having fascinating architecture. The first notable space in the house is the entrance hall. It is located on the first floor and there are two entrances. One is for tenants and the other is a private entrance for the Battló family. Throughout the house you will notice a theme of marine life. The entrance portrays this theme with vaulted ceilings, turtle-shell shaped skylights, and a staircase railing resembling an animal’s spine.
Another important room is the Noble room. This room includes a private foyer, office, dining room, and main salon. The architecture in the room includes floral motifs and organic shapes in ceiling and lighting. Lastly, the spiral staircase will lead you to the terrace that was designed to ventilate the house and serve as an open air sculpture gallery.
There is an iconic “dragon’s back” roofline covered in ceramic tiles that symbolize the legend of Saint George. Gaudi’s interpretation of this architecture is believed to tell the legend of how Saint George slayed a dragon with the designs he illustrated throughout the house.
Casa Batlló is more than an old house with interesting architecture. It is a combination of architecture, history, art, and storytelling.
About the Authors: Mia Sherry and Lanie Painter are juniors, both majoring in advertising.