Casa Batlló

About this place

Gaudí transformed an existing house for the Batlló family in the early 20th century. Its rippling stonework, unusual windows and broken-tile mosaics show the inventiveness of Barcelona's Modernisme. Pause across the street to compare it with the neighbouring houses of the famous Block of Discord. The commission belonged to a period when prosperous families used their homes to express status and modern taste. Here, ornament changes the character of the whole façade rather than merely decorating a conventional wall. Notice how the balconies, window openings and mosaic surfaces contribute to the same flowing effect.