Illa de la Discòrdia, Architectural block in Eixample, Spain.
Illa de la Discòrdia is a city block on Passeig de Gràcia where three large residential buildings stand side by side, each designed by prominent Catalan architects in the early 1900s. The facades differ strikingly: one displays ceramic tiles arranged like overlapping scales, another features undulating exterior walls, and the third uses ornamental carving and curved balcony forms throughout.
The three buildings rose between 1898 and 1906 during Barcelona's period of artistic expansion when wealthy merchants commissioned architects for their residences. The ensemble has remained largely intact since its completion and stands as a key example of Catalan modernism from that era.
The buildings served as homes and business addresses for wealthy merchant families who competed through architecture to display status. Each family shaped their section to reflect personal taste and commercial interests, turning the block into a visual record of Barcelona's elite during the modernist period.
The block sits on Passeig de Gràcia in central Barcelona, easily reached by metro or a short walk from Placa de Catalunya. For the best view of all three facades and their details, stand across the street and allow time to examine the ornamental work and surfaces up close.
Casa Batlló showcases a roof clad in colored ceramic tiles shaped like dragon scales, with balconies that suggest skeletal bone structures. Casa Amatller retains original chocolate-making facilities and blends Flemish design elements with Catalan ornamentation in ways rarely seen elsewhere.
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