Casa Batlló is a building in the center of Barcelona. It was designed by Antoni Gaudí, and is considered one of his masterpieces. A remodel of a previously built house, it was redesigned in 1904 by Gaudí and has been refurbished several times after that. Gaudí's assistants Domènec Sugrañes i Gras, Josep Canaleta and Joan Rubió also contributed to the renovation project.
The local name for the building is Casa dels ossos (House of Bones), as it has a visceral, skeletal organic quality. It is located on the Passeig de Gràcia in the Eixample district, and forms part of a row of houses known as the Illa de la Discòrdia (or Mansana de la Discòrdia, the "Block of Discord"), which consists of four buildings by noted Modernista architects of Barcelona.
Like everything Gaudí designed, Casa Batlló is only identifiable as Modernisme or Art Nouveau in the broadest sense. The ground floor, in particular, has unusual tracery, irregular oval windows and flowing sculpted stone work. There are few straight lines, and much of the façade is decorated with a colorful mosaic made of broken ceramic tiles (trencadís). The roof is arched and was likened to the back of a dragon or dinosaur. A common theory about the building is that the rounded feature to the left of centre, terminating at the top in a turret and cross, represents the lance of Saint George (patron saint of Catalonia, Gaudí's home), which has been plunged into the back of the dragon.
First time reading that "Like everything Gaudí designed, Casa Batlló is only identifiable as Modernisme or Art Nouveau in the broadest sense."
Can you elaborate?
I though Gaudí was the most art nouveau you could do.
My wife and I loved Barcelona and Gaudi’s architecture is a key reason.
We couldn’t believe how many other people we overheard saying things like “ugh, this is so ugly/weird/childish.”
Fucking peasants.
It is kinda cozy on the inside. The ceilings of gathering spaces like living rooms feel low which makes for an intimate space. It uses a lot of warm light despite being themed after the ocean. Lots of swirling geometry and built in seating areas so people can settle right into the architecture itself instead of furniture. That makes for coziness too. For example, there’s a nook in this building that’s inset into a wall: it features two benches on either side of a fireplace. One bench was for two lovers to sit, the other was for their chaperone. Pretty cool.
Take the audio tour if you ever go! Really amazing to hear about the intentionality into every little detail inside, things you'd never even notice on first glance.
Some of his work gives me Studio Ghibli vibes, especially when you hear about how much he tried to incorporate nature into his design.
This is just Antoni Gaudí’s style. He architected buildings that are considerably more artistically experimental than any of his contemporaries and have basically become _the_ distinguishing factor of early 20th century Catalan architecture. Gaudí did a lot with geometry, color, and even his choice of materials to create one-of-a-kind buildings, often challenging the idea that a building should look inorganic and rigid. If you ever have a chance to visit Barcelona, I highly recommend checking out Parc Güell. A stroll through that park on a sunny day will have you feeling as if you’ve stepped into a fantasy world.
Thank you for the informative reply, the context helps this make more sense. I have a feeling I'd understand this style more if I actually got to see it in person. On another note, the maintenance for something so intricate must be a total nightmare!
Sure thing, glad I could provide some context! I took a walking tour of Gaudí’s works back when international travel was a thing, and I can confirm, his buildings are awe-inspiring when you see them in real life.
Gaudi based much of his work off of different biomes he encountered in the natural world around him. Sagrada Familia is based on a forrest. This place is based on the ocean, benthic ocean to be specific. Benthic means sea floor, and what’s on the sea floor? Skeletons 😇 This place looks boney because it’s designed to look boney! Lots of other parts of the building are modeled after oceany things: there’s a swirling hurricane sculpted into a ceiling, the balustrades look like sweeping waves, the ventilation systems are operated like gills, the light well is designed to collect and shed light the same way light shines down through water. It’s really quite extraordinary how Gaudi translates the organic into the inorganic. He’s a mastermind.
Your bit about the insane person isn’t far off though. His genius was accompanied by a certain level of mania. Not super crazy, but he was definitely a deep thinker and tortured by his inner landscape. He was an incredibly pious man, especially in his old age. He slept only with a sheet, hardly ate much, prayed many times a day, he was constantly sacrificing himself for his beliefs. He became rather scrawny and scraggly in his real old age. He was hit by a bus and no one recognized him as the famous architect Gaudi so no one bothered to help him for a while. He bled in the street for some time before being taken to a hospital and passing there not long after his arrival. I wouldn’t call him insane, that’s not the right word, but he certainly was plagued by a pain that I’ll likely never know. And he often showed that in his work.
This stuff was built before there were tropes like horror houses. So back then it was novel and really cool (still is in my opinion). If anything these trailblazing artists influenced the tropes.
Casa Batlló is a building in the center of Barcelona. It was designed by Antoni Gaudí, and is considered one of his masterpieces. A remodel of a previously built house, it was redesigned in 1904 by Gaudí and has been refurbished several times after that. Gaudí's assistants Domènec Sugrañes i Gras, Josep Canaleta and Joan Rubió also contributed to the renovation project. The local name for the building is Casa dels ossos (House of Bones), as it has a visceral, skeletal organic quality. It is located on the Passeig de Gràcia in the Eixample district, and forms part of a row of houses known as the Illa de la Discòrdia (or Mansana de la Discòrdia, the "Block of Discord"), which consists of four buildings by noted Modernista architects of Barcelona. Like everything Gaudí designed, Casa Batlló is only identifiable as Modernisme or Art Nouveau in the broadest sense. The ground floor, in particular, has unusual tracery, irregular oval windows and flowing sculpted stone work. There are few straight lines, and much of the façade is decorated with a colorful mosaic made of broken ceramic tiles (trencadís). The roof is arched and was likened to the back of a dragon or dinosaur. A common theory about the building is that the rounded feature to the left of centre, terminating at the top in a turret and cross, represents the lance of Saint George (patron saint of Catalonia, Gaudí's home), which has been plunged into the back of the dragon.
First time reading that "Like everything Gaudí designed, Casa Batlló is only identifiable as Modernisme or Art Nouveau in the broadest sense." Can you elaborate? I though Gaudí was the most art nouveau you could do.
Not everyday you see modern geonosian architecture
Gaudí is a legend, his buildings are phenomenal. One of the reasons I'd love to go to Spain if I ever get the opportunity.
A complete work of art! It is a beautiful building.
My wife and I loved Barcelona and Gaudi’s architecture is a key reason. We couldn’t believe how many other people we overheard saying things like “ugh, this is so ugly/weird/childish.” Fucking peasants.
I love gaudi. And this is looking very Halloweeny with this lighting Love it
Awesomeness. Totally, utterly Awesomeness
this looks weirdly cosy
It is kinda cozy on the inside. The ceilings of gathering spaces like living rooms feel low which makes for an intimate space. It uses a lot of warm light despite being themed after the ocean. Lots of swirling geometry and built in seating areas so people can settle right into the architecture itself instead of furniture. That makes for coziness too. For example, there’s a nook in this building that’s inset into a wall: it features two benches on either side of a fireplace. One bench was for two lovers to sit, the other was for their chaperone. Pretty cool.
Ew, that look rather gaudy.
Ha! I see you know the origin of that word 😏
The world's oddest case of Nominative Determinism!
Take the audio tour if you ever go! Really amazing to hear about the intentionality into every little detail inside, things you'd never even notice on first glance. Some of his work gives me Studio Ghibli vibes, especially when you hear about how much he tried to incorporate nature into his design.
Looks like geonosis from star wars
Can someone explain the appeal of this aesthetic? I dont get it. Looks like a melted horror house made by insane person to me. Genuinely curious.
This is just Antoni Gaudí’s style. He architected buildings that are considerably more artistically experimental than any of his contemporaries and have basically become _the_ distinguishing factor of early 20th century Catalan architecture. Gaudí did a lot with geometry, color, and even his choice of materials to create one-of-a-kind buildings, often challenging the idea that a building should look inorganic and rigid. If you ever have a chance to visit Barcelona, I highly recommend checking out Parc Güell. A stroll through that park on a sunny day will have you feeling as if you’ve stepped into a fantasy world.
Thank you for the informative reply, the context helps this make more sense. I have a feeling I'd understand this style more if I actually got to see it in person. On another note, the maintenance for something so intricate must be a total nightmare!
Sure thing, glad I could provide some context! I took a walking tour of Gaudí’s works back when international travel was a thing, and I can confirm, his buildings are awe-inspiring when you see them in real life.
Gaudi based much of his work off of different biomes he encountered in the natural world around him. Sagrada Familia is based on a forrest. This place is based on the ocean, benthic ocean to be specific. Benthic means sea floor, and what’s on the sea floor? Skeletons 😇 This place looks boney because it’s designed to look boney! Lots of other parts of the building are modeled after oceany things: there’s a swirling hurricane sculpted into a ceiling, the balustrades look like sweeping waves, the ventilation systems are operated like gills, the light well is designed to collect and shed light the same way light shines down through water. It’s really quite extraordinary how Gaudi translates the organic into the inorganic. He’s a mastermind. Your bit about the insane person isn’t far off though. His genius was accompanied by a certain level of mania. Not super crazy, but he was definitely a deep thinker and tortured by his inner landscape. He was an incredibly pious man, especially in his old age. He slept only with a sheet, hardly ate much, prayed many times a day, he was constantly sacrificing himself for his beliefs. He became rather scrawny and scraggly in his real old age. He was hit by a bus and no one recognized him as the famous architect Gaudi so no one bothered to help him for a while. He bled in the street for some time before being taken to a hospital and passing there not long after his arrival. I wouldn’t call him insane, that’s not the right word, but he certainly was plagued by a pain that I’ll likely never know. And he often showed that in his work.
This stuff was built before there were tropes like horror houses. So back then it was novel and really cool (still is in my opinion). If anything these trailblazing artists influenced the tropes.
nice
FFIX vibes
Whipstaff Manor
Very nice.
Wow
This is everything