Casa Batlló by Antoni Gaudí

Casa Batlló is a residential and commercial building located at Passeig de Gràcia 43 in Barcelona's Eixample district, Spain, which Antoni Gaudí Completely rebuilt between 1904 and 1906 for the textile industrialist Josep Batlló i Casanovas with the help of other architects and artisans, the building's exterior interprets the legend of Saint George, patron saint of Catalonia, in a rich and colorful manner. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Particularly noteworthy in this context, besides the facade, are the furnishings from the Batlló collection, which are still in their original condition. TAGWERC are available.

Furniture from Casa Batlló

Casa Batlló is one of Gaudí's most famous works. The residence on Passeig de Gràcia was originally built in 1877 and completely remodeled between 1904 and 1906 under the design and direction of Antoni Gaudí. It is considered one of his masterpieces and is characterized by its unusual forms and use of color. TAGWERC offers the furniture pieces designed by Gaudí for Casa Batlló: the Batlló Chair, The Batlló bench, the Batlló door handle, the Batlló knob, and the Batlló coat hook are just a few examples. Furniture and home accessories were also designed by Gaudí as part of a holistic architectural project, in which the architect also designed the interiors. They are still crafted today using the same traditional methods and are unique design objects in the Modernisme style, the Catalan Art Nouveau.

Gaudí's holistic building

Gaudí's buildings have survived to this day and almost all can be visited, because it's not just their facades that are worth seeing: Antoni Gaudí was known for not only designing and decorating the building shell like a typical architect – Gaudí's unique architecture also included the design of the interiors and furnishings, such as furniture and home accessories. His Casa de Papel (House of Rome) is a prime example. Calvet and Casa Batlló, whose unique furnishings are still available today at TAGWERC, specialists in design classics. Most of the furniture and home accessories still produced today using traditional craftsmanship undoubtedly originate from these two buildings. They bring the spirit of Gaudí and Barcelona to life within your own four walls.

Organic shapes and opulent colors

Gaudí had a unique and distinctive style, inspired by both nature and Catalan culture and folklore, and clearly standing out from the conventional. He often used organic forms and colors reminiscent of nature, incorporating them into his designs in a unique and artistic way. He combined traditional techniques and materials such as brick, ceramics, and wood. In creating the building, Josep Batlló i Casanovas granted his architect complete creative freedom, assuming that the existing house, which—like all the other houses—had no electricity, would be demolished and a completely new one built.

From old to new

Thanks to Gaudí's boldness and genius, he completely transformed the existing house, moving walls, altering floor plans, adding service shafts and utility lines, extending the house to include a courtyard, and adding a converted attic and a roof terrace. Gaudí subordinated his entire work to the legend of Saint George, the knight on horseback who battled and defeated a dragon. The roof of Casa Batlló symbolizes the dragon's back and scales, while the cross on a chimney represents the lance of Saint George, known in Barcelona as Sant Jordi. The attic ceiling is reminiscent of the ribs of a gigantic beast, creating the illusion of being inside. On the first floor, an organically shaped gallery is meant to represent the dragon's mouth.

Pioneers in many respects

Gaudí, of course, couldn't accomplish the extensive renovation alone and employed other architects, craftsmen, and artisans to realize his ideas. Furthermore, Gaudí had many concepts in mind that weren't recorded on any plans, as they broke with classical architectural conventions. This meant that Gaudí had to painstakingly explain to his collaborators time and again how he envisioned the work and how it should be carried out. Even then, he recycled rubble and waste from other construction sites, such as broken tiles, creating a unique mosaic, and from today's perspective, he can certainly be considered a pioneer in many respects.

Casa Batlló in good company

Casa Batlló is nestled among a series of approximately equal-sized residential and commercial buildings, all of which were created as part of an architectural competition: Casa Amatller by architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch, Casa Lleó Morera by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, Casa Mulleras by Enric Sagnier) and Casa Josefina Bonet by Marcel-li Coquillat.

Imaginative facades – unique design language

Gaudí's works, such as Casa Batlló, are truly special – there's no doubt about that. Whether it's the exterior or the interior design, Gaudí's imaginative designs and unique formal language have made him internationally renowned, and his buildings continue to captivate visitors today. Certainly, buildings like Casa Batlló play a significant role in drawing tourists to Barcelona. With around 27 million visitors annually, the capital of Catalonia is considered the most popular city in Spain. For many tourists, a visit to Gaudí's buildings is an absolute must, as they are representative of Modernisme, the art movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries – also commonly referred to as Catalan Art Nouveau.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

It is therefore no surprise that the works of Antoni Gaudí are part of the UNESCO World Heritage list in Spain, which comprises a total of seven sites. Besides Park Güell and the Palau Güell, the houses Casa Vicens, Casa Milà, and Casa Batlló are also listed as World Heritage sites. Not to be forgotten are the crypt in Santa Coloma de Cervelló, the crypt of the Sagrada Familia, and the Nativity façade of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Nativity. Sagrada Familia. Anyone visiting Barcelona should definitely book tickets online in advance to avoid additional waiting times. At TAGWERC, Antoni Gaudí's interior designs from the Batlló House live on to this day and can even be conveniently ordered online in the TAGWERC Design STORE.