We have been to almost all the major architectural attractions in Barcelona, but we are ashamed to say that up until yesterday, we had never been inside Casa Batlló. Over the Christmas and New Year period however, the house was selling lottery tickets to residents to enter for just €1 each. Amazingly, we were selected and finally got the chance to look inside.
Gaudí’s Casa Batlló is one of Barcelona’s most famous sights. Sitting on the elegant Passeig de Gracia in the heart of the city, it’s hard to miss with its shimmering, iridescent facade.
The history of Casa Batlló
Contrary to popular opinion, Gaudí did not actually design and build the original house, it was actually designed by one of Gaudí’s professors – Emilio Sala Cortés in 1877.
In 1903, the house was bought by textile magnate Josep Batlló y Casanovas. He was he who commissioned Gaudí to redesign and totally reform his house, giving him full creative freedom. Gaudí completely changed the look of the property and changed the facade so that was unrecognisable. He finally completed his project in 1906.
The style inside Casa Batlló
Like many of his projects, Gaudí took his inspiration from nature. Often Casa Batlló is known as the ‘house of bones’ because of the bone-like structure of its outside columns and and the pelvic shape of its balconies. Inside, it’s also said to represent the world under the sea – with windows mimicking turtle shells, lots of shades of blues and undulating organic shapes.
The roof terrace of Casa Batlló
Like many of Gaudí’s buildings, one of the best bits of going inside Casa Batlló is up on the roof terrace, where an array of colourful chimneys shoot towards the sky. Covered in his signature coloured mosaics they resemble dressed-up soldiers with helmets. One of the most iconic parts of Casa Batlló though is the ridge on the top of the house which represents the backbone of a dragon
