Gaudi: casa Batllo (Barcelona)
A personal souvenir of my visit!
CASA BATLLO:
Gaudi totally remodelled the existing building by rebuilding the first floor, adding two floors, and entirely removing the front facade, though achieving its colourful and personal architectural style (note the back facades of both Casa Batllo and its neighbouring masterpiece are absolutely ordinary). The first floor belonged to Batllo family and it is accessed by a separate stairway leading to the main gallery, displaying sinuous forms of stone and coloured glass towards the street (this can be separated into three rooms). The upper floors each hold two flats for rent while the spectacular attic -- sustained by parabolic white arches - was a communal utility space. There are two interior courts, tiled in blue colour in a chromatic gradation --lighter down and darker above. The roof has the appearance of the back of a dragoon, and it is crowned by a bulbous cross and several chimneys.