Casa Batllo

• Artist + date

  Gaudi + (c. 1904)
• Commissioner + reason + function now

  • Joseph Battlo - wanted to compete with other modern houses in the area.
  • Designed to be a residential home.
  • Now functions as a public museum.
• Location

  One of the main boulevards in central Barcelona - Passeig de Gracia.
• Inspiration + style + Purpose

  • Inspired by organic architecture
  • Art Nouveau & Catalan modernism
  • Architecture harmonious with nature - evident through building’s atmosphere of ambiguity and sinuous lines, evoking a “dream-like” architecture, intertwining the themes of nature and fantasy.
  • Challenges the beaux-arts style
• Give a composition point about facade - columns, fenestration & balconies + CT

  Point: Façade reflects Gaudi’s statement that “there are no straight lines in nature”.

  
  

  Reasoning: Incorporates slender stone curvilinear columns, fenestration and balconies.

  
  

  Effect: Emulates shape of bones and “skull-like masks”, emphasising Gaudi’s fondness for organic architecture & building’s famous name “The house of bones”.

  
• Give a composition point about the roof - trencadis

  Point: Roof of building adorned with iridescent, polychromatic, intricate tiles (trencadis) mixed with glass.

  
  

  Effect (1) Giving them a shimmering effect reminiscent of a reptilian animal’s spine (e.g. dragon).

  
  

  Effect (2) Reveal Gaudi conforms to fantasy, “dream-like” architecture - bringing to life popular Spanish legend of Saint George who slays dragon with sword to save endangered princess.

  
• Give composition point about flowers growing on facade.

  Point: Proceeding upwards onto façade is moss and flowers.

  
  

  Effect: Nature seems to repossess the building, reminding viewer of harmony created between nature and man-made structures.

  
• Give a composition point about "bone-like" structures in loft storey.

  Point: Ideas presented in façade can also be indicated within interior.

  
  

  Reasoning: “bone-like” structure continues as pale, slender columns and arches support the loft storey.

  
  

  Effect: Producing an impression of being inside the dragon’s colossal ribcage.
• Give a composition point about the banister

  Point: Banister made from hardwood

  Effect: Represent backbone of the dragon

  
• Give a composition point about the Noble Floor - doors + windows

  Point: Noble Floor (main living room) contains curved giant oak doors / patterned oak flooring & the stained-glass windows have integrated blue circular shapes.

  
  

  Effect (1): Repeating organic architecture

  Effect (2): Highlight the power of the sea,

  Effect (3): Emphasise harmony between nature and man-made structures.

  
• Give negative conclusion (could put in a 12 or 25)

  Due to residential purpose of building, it can be argued that extent of harmony with nature could be limited, since architecture was not originally intended to be visible to all.