The Catalan sun of Barcelona is a welcome embrace to the rather grey sky of Bruxelles (and only an hour and 40-minute flight away). Travellers who love the water, the sea and the sand of a beach holiday, but don't feel like getting wet, should head to Avenue de
Gràcias.
Amongst a plethora of architectural styles, they will find Antoni
Gaudí's
masterpiece at Passeig de Gràcias, 43.
Gaudí
made sure that anyone walking through Casa Batlló would not feel
too far from the water. His oceanic palette and
fluid frameworks in wood and tile englobe the visitor into a sea-like
promenade without turbulent waves but with a rippling serenity.
Upon entering, visitors notice the rounded “corners” of
doorways and windows. The staircase banister holds each hand in perfect form as it leads guests to Batlló's office and sitting rooms.
Light shines from what looks like turtle backs and onto the wall
motif resembling scales. Where Victor Horta's Art Nouveau comes across more
flowery, Gaudí looks to the sea and its creatures for inspiration.
As if underwater and looking
up toward the sunlight, Gaudí's choice of glass - its color and its shape - pull in the natural light of the Barcelona sun. In the office,
a small skylight allows sunlight to naturally fall into place while
being reflected in the mirrors strategically placed opposite of it.
Through the next doors, windows span across the two front rooms separated only by a sliding wooden door. The ceiling droops and curves poetically with the door's framework, avoiding any straight lines. Out the windows, the Batlló family appreciated watching the comings and goings on busy Avenue de Gràcias up until the mid-1950s. To filter excess sun, Gaudí designed stained-glass along the top of the windows in the form of disks and in progressive shades of blues.
Through the next doors, windows span across the two front rooms separated only by a sliding wooden door. The ceiling droops and curves poetically with the door's framework, avoiding any straight lines. Out the windows, the Batlló family appreciated watching the comings and goings on busy Avenue de Gràcias up until the mid-1950s. To filter excess sun, Gaudí designed stained-glass along the top of the windows in the form of disks and in progressive shades of blues.
His choice of colors and
shades is equally apparent down the walls from a domed skylight in the middle of the building. By using darker colored blue tiles
towards the top and lighter colored tiles towards the bottom, the
Barcelona sun shines through this area giving the look of all one
shade.
Tiles are a prominent décor
element throughout the interior of the house as well as on the facade. Some
enthusiasts have even ventured to compare the exterior design to
Monet's lilypads. To use tiles in the rounded areas of the house
(down from the skylight, for example), Gaudí instructed his workers
to break the tiles geometrically to be fitted in and around curved
areas. The two tiled pillars in the dining room, for instance, demand
attention before allowing guests onto the back terrace. The Barcelona
sun is again center stage as it shines onto the tiled terrace and off
the tiled wall at the back of the garden.
Up the final staircase from the attic, visitors marvel again at the tiles (600, according to the official website) Gaudí used to ornate the roof. Compared to a colorful dragon's back, it
invites adults and children to enjoy the magic of Gaudí's
creativity.
But, Gaudí was not only an
esthetic genius. His ingenuity upheld Art Nouveau's marriage of form
and function. As mentioned earlier, he took advantage of the
abundance of natural light Barcelona offers. Yet, the city is also
known for its heat. To assure proper air flow throughout the
building, Gaudí designed discreet air shafts, most notable in the
attic. This storage floor was also used as a laundry for residents.
Along the walls are upward-facing shafts (possibly the only straight
lines to be found) that lead lower into the structure. From the roof,
visitors have an even better view of the air flow possibilities by
looking down, around the skylight windows. Another example is in the design of the interior windows, best seen in the sewing room. A wooden frame
supports the window panes that let in light. Yet, on the bottom half of this frame, slats
can be adjusted according to the desired air flow. Like a sea
creature, the Casa Batlló possesses air passages, gills if you will,
allowing the house to breath...to live.
For more information on
visiting Casa Batlló, please see its
website.
Related posts:
Victor Horta and His Art Nouveau
At the Home of Victor Horta
La Maison Autrique, chez un ami
Related posts:
Victor Horta and His Art Nouveau
At the Home of Victor Horta
La Maison Autrique, chez un ami
4 comments:
Hi!Barcelona is a beautiful place to visit.Gaudi is really genius!He made different and unique architectural styles found only in Barcelona.Thanks for sharing the pictures.It is always best to visit Casa Batlló.
Acute Trek Pvt. Ltd. an indoor outdoor trekking and tours operative company takes you that further way to guarantee you has an unforgettable adventure Trekking in Nepal that you have been dream with Acute trek is part of your choice for the treks himalaya. We have your choose of trekking for 3 days or 30 or more days it depending of your timetable, sleep under lodges or tent. We always respect our duty to constantly your holiday satisfaction in Nepal. Whether you are looking for a quiet gateway, a memorable Hiking in Nepal outing with a family or an exciting nature adventure. We offer you with the best progressive information and itinerary leading focused and modified as per your requirements. It is significant to memorize, though, it necessitate an enough level of physical homework and must remembers that there is also a psychosomatic assurance in walking in mountains. Acute trek is an attempt to encourage Nepal to the exterior world while striving to defend an aged tradition as well as conserve the surroundings for generation to come. Acute Trek specialize in organize Nepal travel activities excursion such as:- Nepal trekking, Helicopter tour, peak climbing, mountain flight, Honeymoon Tour, sightseeing tour, jungle safari, rafting, Pilgrim's Tour, Hotel booking, Air ticket, Tibet Tour, Bhutan Tour, Paragliding, Bungee Jump, Eco Tour, local village tour and many more.
Thank you for sharing such beautiful places with us.
cheap luton airport parking
Indeed, it is a masterpiece.
cheap luton airport parking
Post a Comment