Houses like these are so magical you’d expect to find a doorway to Narnia in them! Countless fantasy stories feature children sent to distant mansions full of wonder and mystery. Three homes designed by Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona, Spain are so whimsical in their design that they are like looking through the portal to a magical realm.
So let’s take a closer look!
The Quarry: La Pedrera
The exterior of La Pedrera, “The Quarry” 
The magical rooftop of La Pedrera 
Floral notes in La Pedrera’s courtyard
The nickname for Casa Mila, “La Pedrera,” means “the quarry.” The wavy stone exterior with its scrap metal balconies makes this apartment building look like a fantastical fortress. On the roof, the vents and chimneys are disguised as whimsical sculptures, some like the helmets of soldiers. The cream stucco of the roof is reminiscent of a desert landscape, but inside, the house bursts with green life. Like most of Gaudí’s famous work, much of the house draws from nature, with designs based off tree branches or skeletons. Painted flowers cover the ceilings.
Although incredibly beautiful, La Pedrera is also revolutionary on the practical side. It’s one of the first habitational buildings designed with an elevator as the primary access to the upper floors and an underground parking garage for cars. Windows off the central courtyard provide light and cool air in a hot climate. La Pedrera makes for both a comfortable home and a playground for the imagination.
The Dragon House: Casa Batlló
The flowing front window 
Staircase like a dragon’s spine 
Unique chimneys atop the roof
Casa Batlló’s design flows with maritime inspiration but also evokes a dragon. The large front window resembles the front of an aquarium with bubbles of blue glass. A spiral staircase like the vertebrae of a spine lead up to a roof topped with crushed tile like dragon scales. The chimneys rise as spines off the dragon’s back. Might the bustle of one of Spain’s largest cities wake a fire-breathing beast?
Gaudí designed furniture as well as buildings with a keen interest in ergonomics. The door handles of this home were molded off the grip of his hand for comfort. A little sitting hollow shaped like a mushroom provides a cozy nook for reading or conversation. Though no longer inhabited, this place would make a beautiful and comfortable home!
The Gingerbread House: Park Guell
View of the show house and gate house from the elevated plaza 
Gumdrop pattern around the window 
Magnificent view of staircase leading to Park Guell’s colonnaded plaza
In addition to houses and apartments, Gaudí designed an entire development. Unfortunately, insufficient transit systems made the area hard to access, so only a single show house and gate buildings were completed. These buildings look like gingerbread houses with spots of color made of inexpensive tile recycled from factory rejects and demolished buildings. The white tops look like frosting. What magical person might have lived in a place like this?
Beyond the buildings, stairs with sculptures of creatures lead up to a plaza held atop broad columns. Gardens with an alcove of rough natural stone spread out to the side. After Gaudí’s death, the city council opened the area as a public park in 1926.
Imagination and Genius
These are just a few of Antoni Gaudí’s creative buildings. I hope their unique beauty will spark your creativity with inspiration also!
Have you been to a place that looks magical to you? Where was it, and what about it inspired you?
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