Wednesday, 9 March 2011

19th Feb 2011 Barcelona Day 3 – Eixample Part 1 Casa Batllo


Barcelona claims to have the greatest collection of Art Nouveau buildings in Europe, a style referred to here as Modernism, flourished from 1854. The city expansion (eixample) inland is composed of a rigid grid of streets, with the exception of the Diagonal, a main avenue running from the wealthy are of Pedralbes to the sea. 


Casa Batllo – this block of flats involved the conversion of an existing building, its front was reworked in stunning organic forms and its fantastic chimneys and rooftop and finished in 1906. The building is said to symbolise the legend of St George killing the dragon, it is now a world heritage site. The building is open seven days a week between the hours of 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.

The front facade – curved lines dominate the facade, adorned with elements of organic forms


Stairway – modernist expression defines the curved stairway leading to the first floor


Hearth – offers a cosy mushroom shaped corner, with benches by the fireplace


Gallery – curved forms of stone and coloured glass


Central gallery light – mix of natural lights through coloured glass and a huge circular light


Garden balcony – the building cured structure can be seen from the rear upon the garden balcony


Skylight – has a watery chromatic graduation, from blue to white, drawing down the light from above


Attic – the arches within this attic are made to look like bones of a rib cage


Roof – has the appearance of the scaly back of a dragon, and is crowded with a bulbous cross and several chimneys


Roof top chimneys – large mosaic structures


  Touring around –

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