Casa Amatller

When chocolate baron Antoni Amatller bought the house on Manzana de la Discordia (the discord block), he already knew that he wanted to radically change its appearance, to align it with the current style. He engaged architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch to re-envision the structure. The result is a strange hybrid of Gothic and Flemish, one of the most interesting examples of Modernist Catalan. The architect was inspired by 17th-century Dutch townhouses. There are several nods to the source of the family’s fortune: sculptures (by Eusebi Arnau) that include chocolatiers at work, almond trees, and blossoms. The façade pattern resembles Flemish tapestry, specifically The Lady and the Unicorn with their backgrounds of mille-fleurs, similar to the flower tiles that coat the house. 

The story behind the name of the block refers to the tensions between the three leading architects of this time in Barcelona: Antoni Gadi, Lluis Domènach i Montaner and Josep Lluis Cadafalch. While Gaudi was the foremost representative of the Modernisme movement, Puig i Cadafalch orientated himself more towards a traditional style, and preferred to find inspiration in Gothic and Moorish elements. 

The colourful glass elements on the gable and the finely cut glass of the windows pay homage to Amatller’s passion for collecting ancient glass vessels. In the building’s interior, there were many clever and elaborate design solutions. Where the café is now, there once was a rotating garage for Amatller’s many cars. And placed behind the large fireplace is a sink, so the water was automatically heated. By the fireplace is a sculpture of a woman in a boat, symbolising Europe and America, as the family’s wealth was based in cocoa trading with America. 

The interior design, including the furniture, tiles, and floors made of fine wooden parquet or mosaic, was largely designed by Puig i Cadafalch.

The walls are decorated with colourful tiles from Seville. 

Chocolates Amatller was founded in 1797 and is today one of the oldest chocolate brands in Spain. When Antoni Amatller inherited the business, he modernised production lines and embraced marketing, including commissioning Czech artist Alphonse Mucha to design the container for his chocolates.

This was Amatller’s first real introduction to Art Nouveau, and the positive effects were almost immediate, as sales increased dramatically.

Everything from wrappers, tins, and posters were redesigned in this new style, making the Amatller chocolate the perfect gift, while also serving as inspiration for the decoration of the family home. 

Casa Amatller

Barcelona, Spain