Casa Batlló is little known among the world population, but it will certainly be included in the excursion programs of Barcelona. There is also a second name for this place - the House of Bones. When decorating the facade, unique ideas were applied that turned the residential building into an element of art, an amazing example of the versatility of the Art Nouveau style in architecture.
The beginning of the great project of Casa Batlló
At 43 Passeig de Gràcia in Barcelona, an ordinary residential building first appeared in 1875. There was nothing remarkable about it, so its owner, being a wealthy man, decided to demolish the old building and create something more interesting in its place, in accordance with the status. Then the famous tycoon of the textile industry Josepo Batlló lived here. He entrusted his apartment building to the then popular architect Antoni Gaudi, who had already successfully completed more than one project.
Being a creator by nature, Gaudi took a different look at the textile worker's house and dissuaded him from destroying the structure. The architect proposed to keep the walls as a base, but change both façade sides beyond recognition. The house on the sides was adjacent to other buildings on the street, so only the front and rear parts were finished. Inside, the master showed even more freedom, bringing his unusual ideas to life. Art critics believe that it was Casa Batlló that became the creation of Antoni Gaudí, in which he stopped using traditional style solutions, and added his own unique motives that became the hallmark of the architect.
Despite the fact that the apartment building can hardly be called quite large, its finishing took almost thirty years. Gaudí took on the project in 1877, and completed it in 1907. The inhabitants of Barcelona have tirelessly followed the reincarnation of the house for so many years, and the praise of its creator spread outside Spain. Since then, few people were interested in who lived in this house, because all the visiting guests of the city wanted to see the interior.
Modern architecture
The description of architectural features lends itself little to the principles of any one style, although it is generally believed that this is modern. The modern direction allows you to use various combinations of design solutions, combining seemingly inappropriate elements. The architect tried to introduce something new in the decoration of Casa Batlló, and he did not just succeed, but came out very balanced, harmonious and extraordinary.
The main materials for decorating the facades were stone, ceramics and glass. The front side consists of a huge number of bones of different sizes that adorn balconies and windows. The latter, in turn, are getting smaller with each floor. Great attention was paid to the mosaic, which was laid out not in the form of some kind of drawing, but in order to create a visual game due to the smooth transition of colors.
In the course of his work, Gaudí retained the overall structure of the building, but added a basement, an attic, and a roof terrace. In addition, he changed the ventilation and lighting of the house. The interior is also an author's project, which feels the unity of the idea and the use of similar decoration elements as in the facade decoration.
In the course of his work, the architect attracted only the best masters of his craft, which included:
- Sebastian y Ribot;
- P. Pujol-i-Bausis;
- Jusepo Pelegri;
- brothers Badia.
Interesting about Casa Batlló
It is generally believed that the dragon was the inspiration behind Gaudí's home. Art critics often mention his love for mythical creatures that helped him bring his creative projects to life. In architecture, there really is a confirmation of this theory in the form of huge bones, a mosaic that resembles scales of azure shades. There is even evidence in the literature that the bones symbolize the remains of the dragon's victims, and the house itself is nothing more than its nest.
When decorating the facade and interior, exclusively curved lines were used, which somewhat softened the overall impression of the structure. Large elements made of stone do not look too massive thanks to such a non-standard designer's move, although it took a lot of work to carve their shape.
We advise you to take a look at Park Guell.
Casa Batlló is part of the Quarter of Unconformity, along with the houses of Leo Morera and Amalier. Due to the large difference in the decoration of the facades of the mentioned buildings, the street stands out from the general view, but it is here that you can get acquainted with the works of the great masters in the Art Nouveau style. If you are wondering how to get to this unique street, you should visit the Eixample district, where every passer-by will show you the right way.
Despite the uniqueness of the architectural solutions, this house was declared an Artistic Monument of the city only in 1962. Seven years later, the status was expanded to the level of the entire country. In 2005, the House of Bones was officially recognized as a World Heritage Site. Now, not only art connoisseurs take pictures of him, but also numerous tourists visiting Barcelona.
