Casa Batlló, Antoni Gaudí's iconic 1906 Barcelona landmark and UNESCO World Heritage site, is adding a new chapter to its storied history with the opening of a permanent contemporary art gallery. The gallery will occupy a 230-square-meter second-floor apartment that has remained closed to the public for decades, opening its doors on January 31, 2026.
Barcelona-based architecture studio Mesura has carefully restored the historic space while introducing thoughtful architectural interventions. The inaugural exhibition, titled "Beyond the Facade," will be presented by United Visual Artists (UVA), founded by Matt Clark. This exhibition coincides with UVA's commissioned work for the building's iconic facade, featuring a new projection mapping piece created for the fifth edition of Casa Batlló's annual mapping festival. The facade work, conceived as a prologue to the gallery opening, will launch on the same day.
The initiative, branded as Casa Batlló Contemporary, represents a significant evolution in how the iconic building engages with present-day culture. For the first time, Gaudí's modernist interiors have been renovated to host two contemporary art exhibitions annually. Visitors can access the gallery either as part of the full Casa Batlló tour or purchase a standalone ticket. According to program director Maria Bernat, the goal is to create a dialogue between past and future, positioning Gaudí's revolutionary vision within a contemporary framework.
The opening exhibition centers on British art collective UVA's exploration of life cycles through light and movement. Known for projects that seamlessly blend art, architecture, and technology, UVA has previously exhibited at prestigious venues including the Royal Academy of Arts in London, YCAM in Tokyo, and the Sydney Biennale. Their installation at Casa Batlló invites visitors to see themselves within ever-changing patterns of light, creating an immersive experience that resonates with Gaudí's organic design philosophy.
Transforming Gaudí's former domestic space into a contemporary gallery presented unique challenges for Mesura's architectural team. Historically, the second floor housed private apartments before later serving as a conservation workshop. The renovation carefully restored original features such as intricate woodwork and stained glass while introducing a distinctive new architectural language. Central to the redesign is a curved metal ceiling that has been screen-printed with concentric ripples, resembling water disturbed by a falling drop.
This innovative ceiling element, produced using robotic technology, provides both structural support and a distinct identity without overwhelming Gaudí's original handiwork. "Our goal was to create an echo of his work, a whisper that adds to his universe without altering it," explains Carlos Dimas, partner at Mesura. This approach demonstrates the delicate balance required when intervening in such a historically significant space.
The project's timing is particularly meaningful, coinciding with the centenary of Gaudí's death in 2026 and Barcelona's designation as World Capital of Architecture. For Casa Batlló's leadership, the new gallery embodies the concept of 21st-century heritage: a cultural institution that maintains rigorous preservation standards while actively reinterpreting its legacy for contemporary audiences. General director Gary Gautier emphasizes that the gallery reinforces Casa Batlló's role as a cultural beacon, expanding its identity beyond conservation toward innovation and creative dialogue.
The transformation also reflects careful long-term planning and vision. The new gallery space was first envisioned in Casa Batlló's comprehensive 2015 Master Plan, which established guidelines for conservation, public use, and cultural dissemination of the building. "Something we envisioned 10 years ago will soon become a reality: reviving a historic space, opening it to the city, and giving it a new purpose," says chief architect Xavier Villanueva.
Casa Batlló has already established itself as a pioneering platform for digital and media-based art, commissioning works since 2021 from renowned artists including Refik Anadol, Sofía Crespo, and Quayola for both its facade and interior spaces. With the launch of Casa Batlló Contemporary, these artistic interventions expand into a permanent, professionally curated program that will bring two exhibitions annually to the historic venue.
The new gallery positions Casa Batlló not only as a preserved icon of architectural modernism but also as an active and vital participant in Barcelona's dynamic avant-garde cultural scene. This dual role demonstrates how historic buildings can maintain their architectural integrity while embracing contemporary artistic expression, creating meaningful connections between Gaudí's visionary 20th-century design and 21st-century creative innovation.
