2. The building located at number
43, Passeig de Gràcia was
originally built by Emilio Sala
Cortés in 1877. It was
acquired by Mr. Josep Batlló y
Casanovas in 1903, and it
was he who commissioned
Gaudí to carry out work on it.
The initial plan was to knock the
existing building down, but
finally it was decided to
renovate instead.
3. The façade of the Casa Batlló is made of sandstone covered with
colorful trencadis (a Catalan type of mosaic).
4. 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.
5. He paid great attention to
detail when designing the
wooden doors, stained glass
windows, colorful tiles and
carved out fireplace.
6. Casa Batlló has been a UNESCO
World Heritage Site since 2005. In the
same year, several other buildings
designed by Gaudí were declared
World Heritage Sites, including the
Nativity Facade and the Crypt of the
Sagrada Familia, Casa Vicens and the
Güell Complex.
7. •Criterion (i): to represent a masterpiece of human
creative genius.
•Criterion (ii): to exhibit an important interchange
of human values, over a span of time or within a
cultural area of the world, on developments in
architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-
planning or landscape design.
•Criterion (iv): to be an outstanding example of a
type of building, architectural or technological
ensemble or landscape which illustrates significant
stages in human history.
