Casa Battló is a residential apartment complex designed by the Spanish genius Antoni Gaudi. Commissioned by its owner Josep Battló y Casanovas, the 1877 house was fully renovated in the interior and exterior by the master architect.
Since the 1990s, the house has been owned by the Bernat family. In 2021, it was fully renovated to provide a more immersive and engaging experience for people who visit.
Selecting tickets for Casa Battló
You have three different general admission tickets to choose from. The base ticket is called Blue and costs 29-37 euro depending on the time and which day. The Silver ticket costs an additional 8 euro, while the Gold ticket costs an additional 10 euro.
All three tickets include entrance and the audio guide. We recommend paying extra for the Silver or Gold ticket so you can see the original concierge room at the entrance, enjoy the immersive Gaudí Dome, and get a tablet with augmented reality (AR) features in each room.
The AR was done well, with scenes from the past being projected in front of you in some of the rooms. Certain features such as animal motifs also came alive and moved in front of your eyes. A lot of fun for history buffs, kids and kids at heart!
If you want to be flexible with your dates, you should purchase a Gold ticket which also includes the private residence of the Battlós. We went with the Gold ticket because we love the immersive experiences, and we thought once we pay so much we better see it all. Because there is nothing worse than leaving a place where you may have missed out on something!
Note prices may change as well as the experiences, so please head to the official website to find out more.
Try to book your tickets during less popular hours. We find that when we visit places with fewer people we feel less stressed and can take in more of the beauty of the place. When you visit Casa Battló you should be respectful to the environment you are in and the people around you.
We recommend visiting Casa Battló at the very first available time slot at 9 am or at lunchtime. Please be aware that the tickets at 9 am may be more expensive due to higher demand at that time.
If you are visiting during the peak season (June - August), you should probably book the 'Be the first visit' ticket at 8:15 am or 8:45 am to guarantee seeing Casa Battló without the crowds. it's easier to take photos and soak in Gaudi's genius. It’s also a great way to learn more from a guide and ask any questions that you may have. This ticket was a bit more expensive, but if you want a quieter and more intimate experience this is the ticket for you.
The influence of nature and sustainability on Casa Battló
Casa Battló is no question one of the most popular and crowded attractions in Barcelona, so you are probably wondering why we are recommending it to you?
We think that visiting Casa Battló can teach everyone to pay more attention to details and even how to embrace sustainable living. And if you have a chance to visit in less popular times or take a morning guided tour, that would be even better.
Gaudi believed that excellent design should not be only aesthetically pleasant but must be both functional and sustainable. This is why his designs continue to astound us today.
Grab your audio guide that comes with your entrance ticket and learn things about the history of the building and how Gaudi designed it. And trust us there is a lot to learn.
You will undoubtedly appreciate Gaudi's skillful integration of natural science into engineering, which can be seen in the furniture's ergonomics, supportive structures, ventilation, and lighting.
Gaudi drew his inspiration from nature and created designs that were not just aesthetically pleasing but also served a purpose. Casa Battló is a prime example of this philosophy in action.
The building's design is inspired by the ocean, featuring a dynamic and visually captivating structure. The architect incorporated passive cooling strategies into the artistic and functional elements of the design, including wooden vents in the lower portions of doors to allow air to flow between rooms. You can see the vents in the picture below.
The walls are constructed of massive concrete, providing thermal barriers and creating a lag between the outside heat and the cooler evening temperatures, preventing the heat from entering the building. This also works in reverse to cool the building during the day.
The building's centrepiece is a large atrium and core that extends from the first level to the top of the structure, covered by a frosted glass and steel skylight. The skylight features operable panes that can be opened to allow air to flow, and rooms on the top level have smaller windows to ensure equal light distribution throughout the building.
The atrium is covered in blue tiles, with the colour gradually changing from dark to light from the top level to the lowest level, creating a sense of visual unity when light shines down the shaft. Overall, the design is both functional and visual.
If we implemented his design in modern architecture we would reduce or eliminate the need for heating and air conditioning, which means less fossil fuels would be produced. Mind blowing isn't it?!
Gaudi is an inspiration not only when it comes to smart design, but also when it comes to giving things a second life.
Gaudi's innovative approach to the renovation of Casa Battló involved reusing construction waste from various parts of the city. A hallmark of Gaudì's distinctive style was his use of broken tiles to craft intricate mosaics that adorned his works. This innovative method of repurposing discarded ceramic shards to create decorations is called trencadìs. You can witness this technique both on the facade and on the rooftop of the building.
Our experience in Casa Battló was absolutely amazing. We loved how interactive it was and how much information was given just by listening to the audio guide. We also enjoyed taking a break on the rooftop because it was warm and sunny. The rooftop offers great views over the city.
Bonus on the way out
When we visited there was also a beautiful installation by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. He was inspired by the organic forms found within Casa Battló and used 164,000 metres of aluminium chains to create a mesh curtain. It was in the atrium and along a staircase as you exited. It was a great way to finish our visit to Casa Battló.
Sustainable travel guide for Barcelona
If you haven't already, make sure to check out our ultimate guide for the vibrant city of Barcelona.
