After more than a century, one of Gaudí’s best-kept secrets is revealed to the world. Casa Batlló completes one of its most ambitious projects in history: the restoration of the rear façade and private courtyard located on the Noble Floor, former home of the Batlló family, recovering the original design conceived by Gaudí in 1906.
For decades, since 1915, the façade was affected by alterations in color and the disappearance of elements like the planters and the pergola of the courtyard. After restorations in the 1950s and 1990s, this marks the first full restoration of these spaces. The process began with a rigorous investigation that led to surprising revelations. An investment of €3.5 million, along with a large team of restoration experts and local artisans from various trades, has restored the original splendor of all materials in the façade: ceramics, glass, wrought iron, wood, and stucco.
Following thorough planning, the restoration has been carried out in parallel at Casa Batlló and in various craft workshops, preserving centuries-old techniques and adapting them to current demands, which reaffirms the value of craftsmanship as a living heritage, with names and faces continuing Gaudí’s legacy.
This restoration coincides with the 20th anniversary of Casa Batlló’s inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its outstanding universal value. This time, an intimate and exterior space, located next to the family dining room, has been restored — originally dedicated to family relaxation, surrounded by elements evoking a garden.
According to Gary Gautier, CEO of Casa Batlló: “It is a privilege to experience this historic moment, to continue unveiling Gaudí’s genius for future generations, and to do so by highlighting the mastery of artisan knowledge. It’s a gift for Barcelona and for the world.”
On the walls of the façade, the stucco and glass and ceramic trencadís on the sides and crown have been restored. The wrought-iron railings, wooden windows and balcony doors, and the pavement mosaic have been recovered, also reinforcing the structure that was in a very deteriorated state.
In this space, missing elements over time have been reproduced, such as the planters located next to the ventilation courtyards and a parabolic reed pergola originally placed in the center of the courtyard. The pavement made of 85,000 Nolla mosaic pieces has also been faithfully replicated, respecting the original techniques. The wrought-iron railings and doors, and the courtyard wall, including the stucco and glass and ceramic trencadís, have also been restored.
A collective masterpiece full of surprising discoveries
“When we discovered the original colors, we couldn’t believe it. The current façade is like the photographic negative of the previous one.” This is how Xavier Villanueva, the architect responsible for the restoration, describes the emotion of receiving the results of the first stratigraphic tests during the pandemic, which analyzed the original colors hidden under multiple layers of paint in the wood, wrought iron, and stucco. In addition to laboratory analysis, an extensive documentary, photographic, and architectural investigation was carried out, utilizing 3D scanning, photogrammetry, and other digital techniques to ensure the accuracy of the project.
“The discoveries we’ve made relate to shapes, colors, and materials with the rest of Casa Batlló. As we restored, we reached the essence of Gaudí, and the whole house gained harmony,” Villanueva adds. As with previous restorations, other surprising discoveries took place during the process, such as the discovery of the system of arched vaults supporting the balconies, radically innovative for the time: a mixed brick and iron spiral structure, never seen before.
Sharing a living heritage
The House’s conservation and restoration work is ongoing, and managing a World Heritage Site also entails a commitment to its dissemination:
Mini-documentary on the restoration of the façade, explained by its protagonists
Special visual page of the before and after
Record of previous restorations
