The influence of Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona and all of Spain is no secret to anyone. From Park Guell to La Sagrada Familia, Gaudi has designed world-famous landmarks in Spanish culture. Because of his modern style, he is known as one of the most famous architects of his time.
Perhaps one of his greatest works is known as Casa Batllo. Casa Batllo was a building that Gaudi designed for Josep Batllo, who was a wealthy aristocrat in Barcelona. The multi-story building is an artistic masterpiece, and its most interesting fact is that it has no right angles.
Let’s explore the artistic style of Gaudi and how it translates into the marvel that is Casa Batllo.
Brief Overview of Gaudi
Antoni Gaudi was born in 1852 in Reus, Spain. He came from a family of boilermakers, whom he learned to create things with his hands and gain a sense of volume.
Gaudi traveled to Barcelona in 1870 to study architecture after having an interest in the field throughout his teenage years. Despite having multiple jobs to pay for his studies, he graduated with a degree in 1878. The director of the school said this famous phrase about Gaudi: "We awarded the diploma to a madman or a genius. Time will tell."
In his developed work, Gaudi is known for a few characteristics in each of his pieces. Primarily, he tends to incorporate bright colors and designs into what he creates. Specifically, he is known for his use of ceramic tiles and stained glass to bring life to his buildings. For example, Park Guell is famous for its structures that are coated in ceramic art pieces and designs.
Gaudi uses elements of nature in his architecture. He copies patterns that are found in the real world and translates that into his buildings. One technique that he is known for is building structures that extend and curve upwards, similar to trees or caves. He even invented the technology that helped make this type of construction easier. We will see examples of how nature was mimicked in the architecture of Casa Batllo shortly.
Another element of Gaudi’s work is his ties to religion. Gaudi was a devout Roman Catholic and included many biblical references in his buildings. He was involved in the restoration of the Mallorca Cathedral and spent a large portion of his life designing La Sagrada Familia. Towards the end of his life, he chose to solely spend his time working on the second cathedral but sadly didn’t live to see its completion (which is set for 2026).
In 1926, Gaudi was struck by a tram and passed away three days later. His ashes were buried in La Sagrada Familia, and he was left with the legacy of “God’s architect.”
Casa Batllo
Although Gaudi typically never explained his work, many onlookers and artists interpret Casa Batllo as a work of aquatic and marine life. Inside the house, there are many references to marine animals and the ocean.
The colors of the walls of the patios contain multiple shades of blue that represent the inverse colors of the sea. At the bottom of the patio, there are white and sky blue tiles. As you ascend to the roof, the colors turn darker until you are left with shades of deep cobalt blue. The barricades on the stairwell are made from cathedral glass, and when you look through it, the glass gives the view a wavy perspective, similar to the ocean.
One of the most famous areas in the entire house is the attic, where the service used to work. The attic has long, curving arches that tower over visitors. The space is often compared to what it would be like to be inside the stomach of a large animal, such as a whale.
On the facade of the building, many have perceived a meaning different from the aquatic theme that is seen inside the house. The front of the building draws inspiration from the legend of Sant Jordi (Saint George), who is the patron of Cataluna. The legend tells the tale that Sant Jordi killed a dragon that was attacking the town to save the princess.
The colorful and whimsical tiles on the roof are said to represent the scales of the dragon. The cross that protrudes from the top of the building alludes to Sant Jordi’s sword that killed the dragon. The very top balcony is the princess’s balcony, and it is in the shape of a flower because Sant Jordi gave the princess a rose that bloomed from the blood of the dead dragon. The rest of the balconies are shaped like skulls and bones, to commemorate the lives lost to the dragon.
Cami Hidalgo, who is in Europe celebrating her recent graduation from the University of Florida, recognized Gaudi’s name from his other works and decided to visit Casa Batllo with her friends. She expressed interest in the connection between the building’s roof and its ties to the dragon from the legend. Hidalgo noted, “I love that he incorporated both real-life animals and kind of like mystical, supernatural animals.”
One of the most magnificent parts about Casa Batllo, aside from its overall beauty, is the ventilation system Gaudí created for the house. Throughout the house, Gaudi installed openings on the walls and windows. These openings were manually adjusted so that residents could let air flow in without having to open the entire window, but also have the ability to trap in heat during the wintertime. Some of the ventilation openings are reminiscent of fish gills, which ties back to the aquatic theme of the house’s interior.
Another form of practicality that Gaudi included in his architecture is his use of natural light throughout the house. For example, on the patio, Gaudi designed smaller windows at the top of the building and larger windows at the bottom so every room can receive the same amount of light. Skylights throughout the house also helped to pull in a lot of light during the day.
Robin Voncken, who is a tourist interested in studying architecture himself, was amazed by the practicality of Gaudi’s building amid his signature style. “He made sure he put the design that he wanted but made it especially possible to do that and I find that interesting,” said Voncken.
Getting There
Casa Batllo is located on the street Passieg de Gracia in Barcelona. If you are a fan of the metro, the building is located next to the Passieg de Gracia stop on the green line (L3). If you use the Calle Aragó-Rambla Catalunya exit, you will end up right in front of the building. There are also several bus stops that can take you to the attraction as well.
Ticket prices to go into Casa Batllo for adults start at 35 euros. Although pricey, the experience is worthwhile and includes an audio guide. There is some good news: kids under 12 have free entry and there are discounts available for students and seniors. To ensure you can get into the house, make sure to book your time slot before arriving through the attraction’s official website.
If you visit Barcelona, this is a stop you won’t want to miss. “I definitely recommend anyone to do this tour,” said Hidalgo. “[Gaudi] is an incredible artist. In the States, you are not going to find anything like this.”
Kommentarer