Casa Batllo

During Gaudí’s mature period, masterpieces followed one after another. In 1904 he received an assignment that turned out to be one of his most iconic works. Josep Batlló, a wealthy textile industrialist comissioned Gaudí to design his home and construct a completely new house instead of the preexisting building on Paseo de Gracia. Gaudí was given full creative freedom to execute his joyful but risky plan. Casa Batlló is now best-known for its unique façade, similar to the crest of the dragon, an allegory of the legend of Saint George, the patron saint of Catalonia. Since 1995, the fully-restored house has been open to the public.

Casa Batllo wasn’t actually built by the celebrated architect. However, it was Gaudi who made it one of the most famous buildings in Barcelona. Originally, the building was built in 1877 by Emilio Sala Cortés (one of Gaudí’s architecture professors), when there was still no electric light in Barcelona. In 1903 it was purchased by Mr Josep Batlló, who hired Gaudi to redesign his home and make it stand out. In 1906, Gaudi completed what became one of his most spectacular works, while Mr. Batllo got exactly what he wanted - an eye-catching building. In 2005, Casa Batllo became a part of the extended UNESCO World Heritage Site of “Works of Antoni Gaudi”.