Block of Discord

After leaving the Cafe de la Pedrera, we headed for a set of Modernista buildings called the Mancana de la Discordia, the Block of Discord. The buildings are said to be so contrasting that they are in an argument with each other. I can imagine back in the UK, council planning officers having a hernia at the prospect of such buildings going up in what most people would describe as a posh area! At the start of the 20th century in Spain, what were presumably much more drab buildings were converted into apartments by Gaudi, Lluis Domenech i Montaner and Puig i Cadafalch. Instead of being visited by angry planning officers, they rapidly became an accepted part of the built landscape. The photo above is of the Casa Lleo Morera with its notable ornate tower on its roof.



The Casa Battlo by Gaudi is my favourite of the three. The roof looks like the curved back of a fish.



And finally the Casa Amatller.