Casa Batlló unveils Gaudí's best-kept secret after its complete restoration

Published on 21/06/2025 - 15:51 GMT+2

The broad refurbishment of nan rear façade of Antoni Gaudí's work and nan backstage courtyard of nan Planta Noble required an finance of 3.5 cardinal euros and nan associated activity of specialised restorers and section craftsmen who person preserved centuries-old techniques and adapted them to modern standards.

This involution marks a historical milestone, arsenic since 1915 nan colours of nan rear façade had changed and characteristic elements of nan courtyard specified arsenic nan jardinières and nan pergola had wholly disappeared. Although location was constricted restoration activity successful nan 1950s and 1990s, this represents nan first genuinely broad restoration of nan space, wherever each worldly has been returned to its original splendour successful accordance pinch Gaudí's intentions.

The restoration process has revealed astonishing discoveries that person wholly transformed nan knowing of nan original design. Xavier Villanueva, nan designer successful complaint of nan operation, said that erstwhile they recovered nan original colours they were astonished, arsenic nan façade had go nan photographic antagonistic of nan original designed by Gaudí. Stratigraphic tests carried retired during nan pandemic revealed nan original shades hidden nether layers of overgarment connected nan wood, ironwork and stucco.

The rebirth of an friendly abstraction designed by nan modernista genius

The restoration has brought backmost to life nan friendly outdoor abstraction adjacent to nan eating room, primitively conceived arsenic a garden-like retreat for family relaxation. On nan rear façade, nan stucco and solid and ceramic trencadís of nan broadside walls and cornice person been restored, while nan wrought robust railings, woody windows, pavilion doors and mosaic paving person been recovered connected nan balconies, reinforcing a building that was successful a authorities of utmost deterioration.

The backstage courtyard has undergone an moreover much spectacular translator pinch nan reproduction of elements mislaid successful time. The heather pergola pinch a parabolic style that was primitively located successful nan centre of nan courtyard has been recreated, together pinch nan planters located adjacent to nan ventilation courtyards. The paving has been faithfully replicated utilizing 85,000 pieces of Nolla mosaic, respecting nan original techniques.

This restoration is portion of a five-year bid of awesome interventions that culminates successful 2025, nan twelvemonth successful which Casa Batlló commemorates nan 20th day of its inscription arsenic a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gary Gautier, CEO of Casa Batlló, believes that being portion of this milestone represents a existent honour, uncovering Gaudí's brilliant for early generations and celebrating nan enduring craftsmanship of maestro artisans, a gift not only to Barcelona, but to nan world.

Rigorous investigation mixed pinch precocious integer techniques specified arsenic 3D scanning and photogrammetry has ensured pinpoint accuracy successful nan restoration. Among nan astir outstanding findings is simply a antecedently chartless building successful nan shape of a spiral of ceramic and mixed iron, arsenic good arsenic a recently discovered vaulted strategy supporting nan balconies, representing a revolutionary invention for its clip that reinforces Gaudí's constructive genius.