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Tomasz Dziubinski - Photography | all galleries >> COLOR AND COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY >> UNESCO - World Heritage Sites >> SPAIN >> Works of Antoni Gaudí > Casa Batllo
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2005 Tomasz Dziubinski

Casa Batllo

Barcelona, Spain

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The Casa Battlló is the most celebrated building on the "Block of Discord" in Barcelona's Eixample district. It stands at Passeig de Gracia and is one of the best-known works of Antoni Gaudi.

The house was originally built between 1875 and 1877. In 1900 it was bought by the rich industrialist Josep Battló i Casanovas who commissioned Gaudí to tear down the old house and reconstruct a new one. Gaudí however convinced Battló to remodel the existing building. Between 1904 and 1906 Gaudí redesigned the facade and roof, added an extra floor and completely remodeled the interior. The facade is a perfect example of Gaudi's Genius. It is made of sandstone covered with colorful trencadis (a Catalan type of mosaic). Typical of Gaudí, straight lines are avoided whenever possible.
Balconies at the lower floors have bone-like pillars, those on the upper floors look like pieces of skulls.
These features gave the house the nickname 'House of Bones'. The enlarged windows on the first floor gave it another nickname, 'House of Yawns'. The colorful scaled roof recalls a reptile skin. According to some authorities on Gaudí architecture, the roof represents a dragon; the small turret with a cross would symbolize the sword of St. George stuck into the dragon.
The bones and skulls on the facade represent all the dragon's victims.
In 2004 the Casa Battlló received the Prix Europa Nostra to the Cultural Heritage and in July 2005 it was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.


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Guest 15-Jan-2012 16:26
Great image in every way.
Aivar Mikko06-Dec-2009 10:04
Excellent Gaudi details, nice colors. V.
cits_4_pets09-Sep-2009 07:03
Great perspective, shows off this wonderful unique window. Like the light inside. Well done! big~
scorpius27-Jul-2009 01:23
wonderful shot!
Guest 04-Jan-2008 20:57
An amazing structure with stunning colour and detail.
Richard Calmes09-Nov-2007 12:57
This is a classic detail! Gaudi marched to the tune of a different drummer. He was and is unique! A brilliant artist!
mathilda williams18-Oct-2007 04:00
great work, tomasz.
mathilda
Guest 14-Jul-2007 10:53
Lovely, looks like something from a Fantasy scene, greated by Slavador Dali! V
Guest 10-Jul-2007 17:05
Fine color saturation and fantastic details. V
Rosemarie Kusserow09-Jul-2007 16:47
Great shot from this beautiful window image, I love the art works from Gaudi a lot, very nice colors, vote, Rosemarie :o)
susan Rogers 04-Feb-2007 02:25
This is beautiful, looks like a Hundertwasser design. Do you have more photos of the entire house?
Jude Marion17-Dec-2006 18:39
Lovely architectural detail!
Jola Dziubinska03-Oct-2005 12:33
Fantastic shot.