Casa Batllo
Casa Batlló
Architect: Antoni Gaudí
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Year: 1904–1906 (remodel of an 1877 building)
Visited: June 2022
Why it matters: A surreal, color-soaked masterpiece in the heart of Barcelona—equal parts architecture, sculpture, and fantasy.
YouTube tour
Why It’s Iconic:
There’s no mistaking Casa Batlló. From the bone-like balconies to the shimmering ceramic façade, it’s a riot of movement, myth, and material. Gaudí remodeled this conventional 19th-century apartment building into something alive—flowing curves, stained glass, light wells, and organic forms everywhere you turn.
Touring it feels like stepping into an underwater dream or the belly of a dragon (fitting, since many read the roofline as a reference to St. George and the Dragon, a symbol of Catalan pride). What’s striking is how meticulously functional it all is—skylights, ventilation, and light distribution were designed with obsessive care beneath all the ornament.
Restoration efforts in recent years have elevated the experience even more, especially with immersive displays and renewed access to the attic and rooftop. In a city full of Gaudí’s wonders, Casa Batlló still manages to feel singular—and impossible to forget.
Jeb Score (Judging Every Building)
Design ★★★★★
Preservation ★★★★★
Livability ★★☆☆☆
Influence ★★★★☆
Overall Iconicity ★★★★★
