Click on each point of interest to have the details of the selected building.
Barcelona: route 1
Modernisme in Barcelona: The Block of Discord
This walk includes the buildings from the Block of Discord in Barcelona, dating from 1887 to 1915. The Block of Discord in Barcelona refers to a group of buildings in the city that were designed by different architects in the early 20th century. These buildings are known for their unique and varied styles, which reflect the artistic and architectural movement known as modernism. All buildings are placed in the same street, therefore the route in itself can be reached easily.
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Go to the Building list below to navigate through each building details of the route.
Casa Lleó Morera
Address: Casa Lleó Morera is at 35 Passeig de Gràcia.
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The building dates back to 1905 and the architect was Lluís Domènech i Montaner. This building takes the name of the family who owned the house: Lleó Morera. “Morera” means “mulberry tree”. This is why there are many mulberry motifs on the decoration. For example, a mulberry tree on the patio, mulberry leaves on the door handles berries below the balconies.
The style is called “modernista”. The design is unique, with intricate details and curved lines. The façade and ground floor have many ornaments. Next to the windows on the first floor, there are two pairs of sculptures. These sculptures are women who show inventions from the period: phonograph, telephone, electricity, and photography.
The building has four floors and a beautiful rooftop terrace. In the past, there was a shop on the ground floor. The family who owned the building lived on the first floor and the servants lived on the second floor. This building is a popular tourist attraction and one of the best examples of Modernisme in Barcelona.
Click to listen to the audio guide of Casa Lleó Morera.
Author Kwong Yee Cheng, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons.
Casa Mulleras
Address: Casa Mulleras is at 37 Passeig de Gràcia.
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The building dates back to 1868. The architect Enric Sagnier remodelled the building between 1906 and 1911. During the construction period of the five buildings in this street, Casa Mulleras was the only building that had the legal licences. The other four buildings in this street had to pay fines for not complying with the requirements. For example, exceeding the mandatory height.
The style is called eclectic. There are some eclectic features, such as the small floral details in the gallery and the balconies. It stands out the central tribune, which serves as a balcony to the upper floor. The façade uses the “colossal order” which allows the building to acquire a monumental scale by eliminating the cornices. As if the building has only two gigantic floors. The building is made of four floors. It was originally a house where people lived. This building is a museum that visitors can tour.
Click to listen to the audio guide of Casa Mulleras.
Author Xavier Badia Castellà, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.
Casa Josefina Bonet
Address: Casa Josefina Bonet is at 39 Passeig de Gràcia.
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The building dates back to 1887 and the architect Marcel·lí Coquillat i Llofriu remodelled the building in 1915. Casa Josefina Bonet may not be the most eye-catching building in this street, but it is undoubtedly the most aromatic one. The building houses the Perfumería Regia perfume shop, and the Barcelona Perfume Museum in one of the spaces reserved for a shop.
The building is an eclectic style, with a two-storey balcony and neo-barroque ornamental details decorating the upper floor. The most outstanding features are the arched windows on the first and second floors and the central crowning element. The building is made of a ground floor and five additional floors, the most striking feature of this building is the central balcony on the façade. The double columns and semicircular arches are the dominant features. On the sides, the stone balconies stand out. In the façade there are faces in every floor. This building is a perfume store and hosts the Barcelona Perfume Museum.
Click to listen to the audio guide of Casa Josefina Bonet.
Author, Xavier Badia Castellà, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.
Casa Amatller
Address: Casa Amatller is at 41 Passeig de Gràcia.
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The building dates back to 1875 and the architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch remodeled the building between 1898 and 1900. The architect Puig i Cadafalch designed sculptures showing the owner’s activities. These were: industry, arts and collecting, and graffito of almond branches, the symbol of the Amatller family name.
The style is called “modernista”. The façade is flat, except for the balconies on the first floor with iron railings and stone columns on a wall decorated with reliefs. The format that stands out at first glance is the gabled roof, which looks like a chocolate bar. It is accentuated at the top by a ceramic frieze that follows the contours of the façade. The building is made of four floors. It was originally a house where people lived. The building is a chocolate museum that visitors can tour, and have a nice cup of chocolate.
Click to listen to the audio guide of Casa Amatller.
Author Elisa.rolle, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.
Casa Batlló
Address: Casa Batlló is at 43 Passeig de Gràcia.
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The building dates back to 1877 and the architect Antoni Gaudí remodelled the building in 1904. The local name for the building is the House of Masks, originating from the shape of the balconies on the façade, which look like carnival masks. The house also represents a dragon.
The style is called “modernista”. The building is famous for the unique and decorative features. The façade presents a colourful mosaic made of broken ceramic tiles (trencadís). The building is made of five floors, with a basement and a roof. The basement housed the storage rooms and coal bunkers. The ground floor was dedicated to garages at street level. The first floor with the balcony is where the family used to live. The upper floors were intended for rent and service. The roof is arched, resembling the back of a dragon.
In 2005, Casa Batlló became a UNESCO World Heritage Site among the other Works of Antoni Gaudí. It is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the world.
Click to listen to the audio guide of Casa Batlló.
Author ChristianSchd, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.