Roderick Simpson and Dr.J have both correctly placed Gumbo as visiting Casa BatllÓ in Barcelona.Honorable mention goes to HistoryDigger for getting the city and architect.
Designed by the premier Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi originally in 1877 and then redesigned by him in 1904 in the style called Modernisme which incorporated both natural and fantasmic elements.
In the style of Modernisme, Gaudi used very few straight lines or squared off corners. Curves and natural shapes ruled the roost. Here are some architectural examples:
Your author in front of the main staircase leading into the house.
The main stars were made to look like the spinal column of a large animal. The outside of the house is decorated as a dragon, maybe in referance to St. George and the Dragon:
This picture courtesy of www.touristattractions.com
Even in places most people would never see, like the work space in the attic, Gaudi stuck to his theme:
Gaudi also designed elements of the house with new ways to deliver needed heat or fresh air, while maintaining the natural style:
This heat register allowed the circulation of warm air, and let the residents control the flow with sliding doors.
This door led to a closet.
Gaudi also designed furniture for his houses. These are in the Gaudi museum in Parc Guell:
Nearby is another famous Gaudi building – Casa Milà also known as La Pedrera
I have not included Parc Guell or the Seagrada Familia Cathedral because TravelGumbo has already visited those sites and you can find them here and here along with other Barcelona pieces by going to the Destinations tab and clicking on Spain.
Tomorrow we will have a new Where in the World is TravelGumbo. Where will we find ourselves?
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