🐉 The dragon’s house where light breathes

At the beginning of the 20th century, Antoni Gaudí reached the peak of his creative maturity. By 1904, he had already gained major recognition for redefining Catalan Modernisme. When wealthy industrialist Josep Batlló commissioned Gaudí to redesign an existing building on Barcelona’s prestigious Passeig de Gràcia, the architect was given nearly complete artistic freedom. Between 1904 and 1906, Gaudí transformed the conventional structure into one of his most recognizable works and the most imaginative and symbolic buildings in architectural history.

🏰 Casa Batlló:

• Originally a standard residential building, Casa Batlló was completely remodeled as a luxury family residence with rental apartments. Gaudí redesigned the façade using flowing organic forms inspired by marine life and nature.

• The exterior is decorated with colorful mosaic tiles (trencadís), bone-like columns, and balconies resembling theatrical masks or skulls.

• The tiled roof arches into a dragon’s back, pierced by a cross-topped turret that symbolizes Saint George, Catalonia’s patron, triumphing over the beast.

• Inside, Gaudí eliminated straight lines, creating fluid spaces filled with natural light. The central light well uses graded blue tiles to ensure even illumination throughout the building.

💡 Interesting Facts 💡

• Casa Batlló is sometimes nicknamed Casa dels Ossos (“House of Bones”) for its skeletal balconies and columns.
• The roof’s ceramic scales were restored using over 6,000 pieces of handmade tile.
• The building’s ventilation system – crafted from wood grilles and adjustable vents – is entirely passive, decades ahead of its time.
• Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 as part of the “Works of Antoni Gaudí.”

Mini-story: When Gaudí presented his radical plans, neighbors mocked the idea of turning an old apartment block into a “house of monsters.” After completion, it became a sensation on Barcelona’s golden boulevard – proof that Modernisme could be both functional and fantastical.

Look closer: The main floor’s whirling oak door recalls a sea vortex; the skylit staircase flows like a vertebral column; the ceramic roof tiles subtly shift in hue, as if breathing with the changing light.

Myth vs Fact: Many think Gaudí designed every detail himself – but he entrusted key crafts to artisans like Josep Maria Jujol and the Badia brothers. Their mosaic, glass, and carpentry work gave the dragon its skin and soul.

✈️ Travel Tips ✈️

1️⃣ Address: Passeig de Gràcia 43 (Eixample). Best light: late afternoon façade glow.
2️⃣ Metro: L2/L3/L4 Passeig de Gràcia (1 min walk).
3️⃣ Gaudí route: Five minutes from Casa Amatller; continue north to La Pedrera.
4️⃣ Detail hunt: Mask-balconies, skull-columns, the spiral attic arches, and the rooftop chimneys shaped like warriors.
5️⃣ Tickets: Timed entry with augmented-reality “Gaudí Dôme” and rooftop access – book in advance for sunset views.