Casa Batllo

Across the road and a bit further down from the Casa Mila is Casa Batllo; a single, multi-storey apartment designed entirely by Gaudi.

The facade, like Casa Mila has few if any straight-lines. Here though, the window frames are not rectangular but each window frame is uniquely built to fit its own space in the external wall. This principal extends throughout the house; doors and doorways are all unique. Every part of the stairs has been shaped to avoid any recto-linear form. Admittedly walls are indeed vertical, tiles are square and parquet flooring is rectangular but that is about it for straight-lines and even flat surfaces.

• none of the walls are flat, always bending
• transitions from ceiling to wall are curved
• ceilings are textured, one has a spiral

And colour is everywhere: the central light well is decorated in blue ceramic tiles; the colour of the tiles changing  with height so that it appears to have a consistent colour regardless of the quantity of light. On the roof, chimneys and their caps are decorated in colourful mosaic which extends to parts of the walls. At the top of the facade, fantastical minarets and other shapes finish off the structure. Even the facades front & rear are decorated with mosaic

In the attic, what would have been staff quarters, are incredible curved arches supporting the roof; here the walls are not even vertical

At the very top of the house, is a small balcony over-looking the main street; just about big enough for one person. Nowadays there is a digital camera erected facing inward and of course you can have your photograph taken standing in front of one of the most original pieces of architecture anywhere, anytime. Yep, I've got mine!