Casa Batlló, Antoni Gaudí’s iconic Barcelona landmark, has completed a €3.5 million ($4 million) restoration of its long-neglected back façade and courtyard. The project involved stratigraphic paint analysis to uncover original colors—revealing that the now-cream stucco was once deep gray and the windows originally green—along with restoration of trencadís mosaics, ironwork, wooden elements, and an 85,000-piece Nolla mosaic. The courtyard’s custom planters and parabola-shaped pergola were also rebuilt, returning the rear of the house to Gaudí’s original vision for the first time in over a century.
This restoration matters because it completes the conservation of one of Barcelona’s most visited cultural landmarks, which drew nearly two million visitors in 2024 and generated €34 million in profits. The project underscores the Bernat family’s long-term commitment to preserving Gaudí’s masterpiece since acquiring it in 1993, and it reveals new insights into Gaudí’s innovative architectural techniques, such as a vaulted balcony support system. The work also highlights the growing trend of comprehensive, research-driven restoration in major heritage sites, balancing tourism revenue with authentic historical preservation.