A Dragon In The Mediterranean Sea

This is Casa Batlló in Barcelona, Spain, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi.  

Wikipedia says, “Casa Batlló, built in 1877, is a building in the center of Barcelona. In 1903 it was purchased by Josep Batlló, who hired Antoni Gaudí to redesign the home. It is considered one of Gaudí’s masterpieces. Much of the façade is decorated with a colorful mosaic made of broken ceramic tiles - a type of mosaic called trencadís. The roof is arched and has been likened to the back of a dragon.”

This house was SPECTACULAR. The curves, the colors, the unique windows.  The exterior is gorgeous. The interior even better. 

The living room windows facing the main boulevard in the city, Passeig de Gràcia. 

Look at this beautiful colored glass.

My favorite part of the house was the iconic blue light well in the center of the house. Topped with a skylight, the light filters down through the center and into the house via the windows on each floor. 

Look at the curved details on the edge of this door.

And these columns were put right in the center of the doors of the dining room that goes out to the patio.

This stairwell.  Ugh.  Gorgeous.

The skylights.  And the curves.  So beautiful.

The blue tiles of the interior building well are darker at the top and lighter at the bottom, intended to distribute the light evenly. It looks different from every floor and the rich, saturated blue color of the tile in the light well is gorgeous. 

From the bottom looking up, it feels as if you’re underwater. This fits since Gaudí got his inspiration from the marine world and the Mediterranean sea. 

Gaudí also designed the furniture for the house.

Look at the rich vibrant color of these tiles.

Gaudí created a special script for the letters of the alphabet.  You can see one of them here on the door of this room - the G at the top of the door.  

His design extended to the roof area also.  Look at these chimneys, decorated with his famous mosaic tile style.

This wall was designed to look like a dragon's back.

As you look closer, you can see the idea of the scales with the small pieces of tile.

Scales on the roof facing the front side of the building.

The entire time I was there I was imagining how amazing it must have been to have lived there. 

We went to three Gaudí buildings in Barcelona - Casa Batlló, Casa Milà (also known as La Pedrera), and La Sagrada Família.  This one, Casa Batlló, was my favorite.

This place is definitely a must-see if you go to Barcelona.

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2022: Hallway From Hell
2021: A Grand Old Visit
2020: Now You See It, Now You Don't
2019: Green Sticks Everywhere
2018: Designated Office Space
2017: Desert Garden In Bloom
2016: Agile Cat
2015: Future Steak
2014: What Should Have Been Paul's Place
2013: At The Drop Of A Hat
2012: Passing Up A Little Afternoon Delight
2011: Annnnnnd…It’s Back On!
2010: Rise Early. Work Hard. Strike Oil.
2009: It’s All Connected To The Pigskin
2008: The Sorriest Team Drivers You’ve Ever Seen
2007: Ooooooo, A Contest!
2006: Modern Convenience
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!