{"id":53922,"date":"2026-07-11T23:01:22","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T23:01:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/53922\/"},"modified":"2026-07-11T23:01:22","modified_gmt":"2026-07-11T23:01:22","slug":"a-1906-antoni-gaudi-designed-residence-comes-back-to-life-in-barcelona-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/53922\/","title":{"rendered":"A 1906 Antoni Gaud\u00ed\u2013Designed Residence Comes Back to Life in Barcelona"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The extraordinary, fantastical world conjured by Antoni Gaud\u00ed<\/a> is firmly in the spotlight this year, which marks the centenary of the famed Catalan architect’s death in 1926. Adding to the occasion is the impending completion of his long-awaited magnum opus, Barcelona’s Sagrada Fam\u00edlia, which has been under construction for 144 years.<\/a><\/p>\n

However, another one of Gaud\u00ed’s most recognizable creations just reached its own milestone: The painstaking restoration of Casa Batll\u00f3, its third floor in particular, is now complete. The color-soaked interiors offer a vivid reminder that the architect’s genius extended far beyond spectacular facades.<\/p>\n

\"Luxuriously<\/p>\n

La Sala de Convidats on the third floor of Casa Batll\u00f3 features a blue marble table and a mix of vintage pieces.Claudia Maurin\u0303o<\/p>\n

(Claudia Maurin\u0303o)<\/p>\n

Known as Barcelona’s “House of Bones,” Casa Batll\u00f3<\/a> earns its nickname at first glance. The five-story landmark resembles something from a fairytale, with a sinuous exterior featuring skeletal balconies, shimmering mosaics, iridescent dragon-scale tiles, floral stone ornamentation, and a cupola topped with a four-armed cross.<\/p>\n

In 1906, Gaud\u00ed transformed an existing residential building into what today is Casa Batll\u00f3, masterminding the exteriors and interiors in his signature style of Catalan Modernisme. For over a century, the Batll\u00f3 family occupied the third floor of the structure, even while other renovations and modernizations happened throughout the building. UNESCO named the structure a World Heritage Site in 2005.<\/p>\n

\"Decorative<\/p>\n

The entry to the apartment from the lightwell, which Gaud\u00ed sheathed in azure tile work.Claudia Mauri\u00f1o<\/p>\n

(Claudia Mauri\u00f1o)<\/p>\n

In 2023, the Board of Casa Batll\u00f3 began the meticulous process of renovating the entire third floor. They took a methodical approach akin to an archeological dig in which layers were stripped away to reveal Gaud\u00ed’s original vision. The team included Milan-based interior designer Paola Navone of OTTO Studio as well as Xavier Villanueva as lead restoration architect.<\/p>\n

\"Interior<\/p>\n

An emerald mosaic bar and Calvet armchairs decorate one of the smaller rooms in the apartment.Claudia Mauri\u00f1o<\/p>\n

(Claudia Mauri\u00f1o)<\/p>\n

“At first, I felt that intervening in Casa Batll\u00f3 was almost impossible,” said Navone in a statement. “Everything changed when I stopped thinking about designing over Gaud\u00ed and started imagining that this residence was my own home in Barcelona.”<\/p>\n

The project included restoring the apartment’s original woodwork and flooring, as well as reproducing floral stuccoes and intricate ceiling details with the help of artisans. The team also uncovered original doors that Gaud\u00ed had repurposed, which points toward his interest in adaptive reuse\u2014a theme woven throughout the original project. A previously unknown door handle also resurfaced amid the update, further proof of the architect’s attention to the smallest of details.<\/p>\n

\"Gaudi<\/p>\n

El Vestidor is a former transition space within the home.Claudia Mauri\u00f1o<\/p>\n

(Claudia Mauri\u00f1o)<\/p>\n

Perhaps best of all, the private rooms are now available to book for special events through Casa Batll\u00f3’s online portal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In addition, the second floor of Casa Batll\u00f3 is now hosting an exhibition put on by Casa Batll\u00f3 Contemporary and Fundaci\u00f3 Joan Mir\u00f3. Open through January 2027, “Gaud\u00ed-Mir\u00f3-Gomis: Deconstructed” explores the links between Gaud\u00ed, artist Joan Mir\u00f3, and photographer Joaquim Gomis. The show also features digital interventions from Tomorrow Bureau that aim to further contextualize the work of the three creative masters.<\/p>\n

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