Antoni Gaudís iconic Casa Batlló will debut a new contemporary art gallery in January 2026, transforming the second floor that has been closed to the public for decades into Barcelonas newest cultural destination.
The second floor, historically used as residential apartments and later as a conservation workshop, will become a dedicated contemporary art venue hosting two exhibitions annually. London-based collective United Visual Artists, whose work has appeared at institutions including the Royal Academy of Arts and Tokyos YCAM, will inaugurate the space with “Beyond the Façade,” an immersive installation exploring lifes cycles through light and movement.
Architecture firm Mesura has redesigned the gallery while preserving original features including woodwork and stained glass. The centrepiece intervention is a curved metal ceiling inspired by Mediterranean waves, featuring robotic screen-printing that traces concentric ripples created by water drops. The innovative design transforms 1.2mm metallic sheets into a self-supporting structure using incremental forming technology borrowed from automotive manufacturing – a technique never before applied in architecture.
“Intervening in a Gaudí building is both a dream and an enormous responsibility. 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. The firm collaborated with metalwork specialists Oxido Studio to achieve the precise parametric geometries through robotic compression and stretching of metal sheets.
The gallery floor introduces a green tone that references the carpentry colours of Casa Batllós façade, creating chromatic continuity within Gaudís existing palette. This approach reflects Mesuras philosophy of dialogue rather than imitation, honouring Gaudís experimental spirit through contemporary innovation.
The gallery launch coincides with the centenary of Gaudís death and Barcelonas designation as World Capital of Architecture. Casa Batlló director Gary Gautier positions the project as “21st-century heritage”—a living monument that evolves through contemporary artistic dialogue while remaining true to its essence.
Since 2021, Casa Batlló Contemporary has commissioned works by internationally recognised artists including Refik Anadol, Sofía Crespo, and Quayola for façade mappings and internal exhibitions. United Visual Artists founder Matt Clark will also create a new façade mapping in 2026 as a prologue to the gallery exhibition.
Visitors can access the new space either as part of the full Casa Batlló experience or through standalone tickets, making contemporary art more accessible within one of Barcelonas most visited architectural landmarks.
Photo credits: Casa Batlló Contemporary; Mesura
