About Casa Batlló
The history
Casa Batlló is located at number 43 Passeig de Gràcia, a street that once connected the city with the Vila de Gràcia, now fully integrated as a neighborhood of the city.
Development of Passeig de Gràcia
From 1860, the year when an ambitious urban planning project was approved in Barcelona (Cerdà Plan), Passeig de Gràcia began to take shape as its main axis, and it became the location for the residences of the city’s most distinguished families. Thus, in the 19th century, the street turned into a promenade for pedestrians and horse-drawn carriages, and in the 20th century, it became the main avenue for automobiles.
Originally, the building was constructed in 1877 by Emili Sala Cortés (one of Gaudí’s architecture professors) when Barcelona still did not have electric lighting. In 1903, it was acquired by Josep Batlló i Casanovas, a textile industrialist who owned several factories in Barcelona and was a prominent businessman.
Construction of Casa Batlló
Josep Batlló gave complete creative freedom to Antoni Gaudí, initially commissioning works that involved demolishing the building. However, thanks to Gaudí’s boldness, the demolition of the house was ruled out, and a full renovation was carried out between 1904 and 1906.
The architect completely transformed the façade, redistributing the interior partitioning, expanding the light well, and turning the interior into a true work of art. In addition to its artistic value, the building has immense functionality, more aligned with our time than with the past. Some even see it as a precursor to the architectural avant-gardes of the late 20th century.
The Block of Dischord
Next to Casa Batlló and in the same period, prominent architects renovated other houses that once competed for the urban planning awards held by the Ajuntament de Barcelona, which is why this area became known as the “Block of Discord.” These houses are also modernist and now form a unique set, which includes:
– Casa Batlló, by Antoni Gaudí
– Casa Amatller, by Josep Puig i Cadafalch
– Casa Lleó Morera, by Lluís Domènech i Montaner
– Casa Mulleras, by Enric Sagnier
– Casa Josefina Bonet, by Marcel·lí Coquillat
Recent history
Casa Batlló ceased to belong to the Batlló family in the 1950s. After hosting several businesses and private individuals, since the 1990s the building has been in the hands of the current owners, the Bernat family, who have fully restored the house.
In 1995, the family opened the house to the public and presented this architectural gem to the world, offering the space for events. From 2002, coinciding with the International Gaudí Year, Casa Batlló also began to host cultural tours. Both activities are currently developed while constantly innovating in their offerings and content.
Today, Casa Batlló is a UNESCO World Heritage site and an icon of Barcelona, a must-see stop to experience Gaudí’s work and modernism at its fullest. It is also one of the most highly rated cultural and tourist attractions, welcoming 1 million visitors each year.