One of Barcelona's Three Great Architects: Cadafalch

When you are captivated by the dazzling facade of Casa Batlló and pause to gaze upward, you will surely overlook the building next door, the home of chocolate merchant Amatller, neighbor to textile merchant Batlló. Visiting Casa Amatller, your ticket includes a piece of chocolate. This chocolate brand pioneered a marketing approach on Barcelona's commercial streets, using packaging designed by famous painters, sparking a trend of collecting the series of wrappers. On the same street, there is a third representative building of this discordant block: Casa Lleó Morera, which now houses a Loewe store.

When the aristocracy moved from the cramped old houses in the Gothic Quarter to the spacious Passeig de Gràcia, they no longer rushed to flaunt hats and clothing but instead hired designers to create lavish mansions that showcased their wealth and status. The demolition of the old city walls opened the door to the rise of Barcelona's 19th-century architectural styles. Becoming an architect became another dream profession for boys, alongside being a soldier. Cadafalch was younger than Gaudí and Montaner; he was not only an architect but also a politician who strongly advocated for urban development and industrial progress. The merchant Amatller hired Cadafalch, his contemporary. They shared a common political vision of reviving Catalan culture, kindred spirits. The Amatller family ran the chocolate business for three generations. His name means 'almond blossom.' Cadafalch designed a floor tile with an almond blossom pattern for his home. This tile can be seen on many streets in Barcelona, along with a series of refrigerator magnets and canvas bags.

Another factory designed by Cadafalch, a cotton textile mill, is located at the foot of Montjuïc. The Palau Nacional on the hilltop was also proposed by Cadafalch. This includes the rectangular avenue and columns connecting Plaça d'Espanya. However, he did not ultimately carry out the design; the designer adopted his original proposal for a palace building with a vaulted roof.

Due to the outbreak of the American Civil War, cotton textile processing shifted to Spain. Additionally, Barcelona built Spain's first railway. Industrial development led to wealth accumulation. The expansion of the old city gave many designers opportunities to showcase their talents. They transformed former monasteries or created new spaces, designing many factories, markets (such as the famous La Boqueria market), and parks (like the city park near the Arc de Triomf). At that time, the area of the cotton mill was sparsely populated, surrounded by quarries, with very poor road conditions. This cotton mill has now been purchased by a bank and turned into a museum, with rotating exhibitions each season. The renovation of the mill itself is also a renowned architectural work. The designer preserved the factory's facade and built the museum entrance underground, resembling a subway entrance. The tree-shaped support design of the entrance comes from a Japanese architect; the former underground warehouse serves as part of the exhibition halls, while the above-ground factory area retains its original structure.