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| La Pedrera, Barcelona |
These two buildings are easy to combine on the same day, being close together on Passeig de Gracia. But there are a lot of details to notice in both of them, so it is best to leave a long time for both buildings and not whizz through each part without noticing the quirks.
La Pedrera (or Casa Mila) is named after its rough outer surface. Built in 1906-12 (and incorporating the first underground car park in Barcelona), it was Gaudi’s last civil engineering project, and he didn’t even do the last stage thanks to disagreements with the owners. Intended as rental flats and a family home, in 1984 it got UNESCO world heritage status.
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| La Pedrera, Barcelona |
Its roof and main façade undulate, and the roof in particular was unlike any architecture of the time. The roof has many fascinating twisting chimney structures that stand tall like guards for the surrounding skyline.
The only shame is the large number of cranes in the surrounding skyline that affect the views. The loft has a visually impressive 270 arches of different heights, all the more so considering the area was only designed as a laundry.
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| La Pedrera, Barcelona |
The attic now contains a good exhibition of Gaudi’s life and work, including detailed models of designs, which could occupy a Gaudi fan for 2-3 hours. The route includes an early 20th century-styled apartment, with original furniture and household items, and floors/doors etc designed by Gaudi.
The café underneath is worth a visit (decent tea selection, very good cakes), as is the shop which had a good selection of above-average quality items.
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| Casa Batllo, Barcelona |
Casa Batllo (1904-7) was a development of an 1877 house. Nicknamed the “house of bones” due to its external structure, it amazed Barcelona even amidst a time of many modernist designs. The front façade, with striking balconies resembling skulls or masks, must explain a lot of this impact.
Of the four Gaudi sights we saw, Casa Batllo might be the best to see last, because it of its variety and many surprises (not that the other places weren’t good in their own ways). Whilst others also worked on aspects of the house, Gaudi’s personal input was extensive, including all doors and furniture.
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| Casa Batllo, Barcelona |
Much thought was put into maximising and managing light, with an innovative central skylight and a lightwell across all 7 floors.
But the main thing we liked was how so many shapes are like organic like forms, curves rather than straight lines, even for things like glass panels.
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| Bannister in Casa Batllo, Barcelona |
Some things that we particularly liked was a curved oak handrail shaped like a twisting spine, a snug enclosed double seat by an oven, the multi-coloured and irregularly-shaped stained glass panels (on both interior and exterior windows), coloured roof tiles like reptilian scales, and a loft containing smooth, white parabolic arches. And a lot more besides; it was hard to take it all in!
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| Casa Batllo, Barcelona |
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| Ceiling light in Casa Batllo, Barcelona |
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| Casa Batllo, Barcelona |
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| Casa Batllo, Barcelona |
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| Casa Batllo, Barcelona |
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| Casa Batllo, Barcelona |
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| Casa Batllo, Barcelona |
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| La Pedrera, Barcelona |
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| Café in La Pedrera, Barcelona |
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| La Pedrera, Barcelona |
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| La Pedrera, Barcelona |
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| La Pedrera, Barcelona |
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| Floor tiles in La Pedrera, Barcelona |
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| La Pedrera, Barcelona |
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| La Pedrera, Barcelona |
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