2-370-063 - Samuel Magal/Sites & Photos/Heritage Images

The curved rooftop of Batllo House, Barcelona, Spain, 2007. Casa Battlo was built in 1877 and remodelled by Antonio Gaudi in the years 1905-1907 for the Battlo family, living in the first floor. Because of the curved roof and skeletal organic quality, the local name for the building is House of Bones or House of the Dragon. A common theory is that the house represents the battle of Saint George with the dragon. The building is decorated in Modernisme style, with a mosaic made of broken ceramic tiles in shades of orange, green and blue. Along with Casa Ametllar and Casa Lleo-Morera, it makes up the three most important buildings in Barcelona's famous 'Illa de la Discordia' (Block of Discord') [formerly known as 'Apple of Discord' (manzana de la Discordia)], noted for its unique modernist buildings. The building was awarded as one of the three best buildings of the year 1906 by the Barcelona City Council; Battlo House is one of the seven works of Gaudi that were declared World Heritage sites by UNESCO in 1984.