London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Aug 24, 2025

Antoni Gaudí’s First-Ever Designed House

Antoni Gaudí’s First-Ever Designed House

The legendary architect’s Casa Vicens will open its doors in Barcelona for an exclusive one-night stay.

This fall in Barcelona, Spain, two lucky Airbnb guests will have the rare opportunity to spend the night in Antoni Gaudí’s Casa Vicens. Dating back to 1885, the historic residence marks the celebrated Spanish architect’s earliest commission in the city. The UNESCO-listed landmark, which is widely regarded as one of the first buildings of the Art Nouveau movement, was originally designed by Gaudí as a lavish retreat for a local family.



Architect Antoni Gaudí designed Casa Vicens when he was just 31 years old. Built with vibrant ceramic tiles and red bricks, the historic structure was Gaudí’s first-ever commission. Today, it’s commonly referred to as one of the greatest examples of Art Nouveau, which is also known as Catalan Modernism.

Although the building has been in private hands for the majority of the 136 years since Gaudí built it, the vibrant architectural landmark was converted into a house museum in 2017. Now, for the first time ever, Casa Vicens will offer an overnight stay for two guests. The booking-which is currently listed on Airbnb for roughly one dollar-will be available to reserve on a first come, first served basis.



Casa Vicens was declared part of UNESCO World Heritage in 2005. This August, the Barcelona landmark will welcome two overnight guests for a one-time, one-night stay via Airbnb.

The fortunate guests will be hosted by Casa Vicens’s general manager, Emili Masferrer i Fons, who is part of the team that transformed the historic property into the current museum. The host will share insights from the restoration project during an exclusive tour of the property, after which guests will enjoy a Gaudí-inspired Michelin-star meal in the grandiose dining room-followed by a nightcap in the swanky ‘smoking room.’



According to the Airbnb listing, Casa Vicens "represents the flowering of Barcelona’s distinctive form of modern architecture." The sprawling interiors reveal Moorish, neoclassical, and organic motifs.



A peek at the dining room where guests will enjoy a Michelin-star meal. Much of the wooden furniture in this room was designed by the internationally renowned architect.

The evening will conclude with a stay in the Vicens family’s primary bedroom-another space fitted in Gaudí’s distinctive style. A full Mediterranean breakfast will be served the next morning in the lush, private garden. Throughout the exclusive stay, the doors to Casa Vicens will be closed to the public, presenting the two overnight guests with unprecedented access to the 19th-century property.



Set on the first floor, the primary bedroom showcases Gaudí’s interpretation of Art Nouveau.

"We are excited to give guests the opportunity to experience this house as Gaudí designed it," says Casa Vicens’s general manager. "We are deeply committed to the preservation of Gaudí’s cultural heritage."



In the vibrant ‘smoking room’ on the home’s lower level, plasterwork on the ceiling replicates palm trees, while the colorful walls are decorated with intricate papier-mâché tiles.

"A local production team worked under our supervision to turn the house into a beautiful sanctuary for guests in the middle of Barcelona," the Airbnb host continues. "It will be a great pleasure to share the building’s secrets and rich history with whoever books the listing."



Guests will enjoy a Mediterranean breakfast in the private garden that surrounds the vibrant structure.

Booking for the coveted Airbnb listing opens on July 12, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. EST (4:00 p.m. CEST). The stay will cost 1-roughly one dollar-plus taxes and fees. According to Airbnb, "interested guests should note that house rules are in strict adherence with local COVID-19 guidelines, and those who request to book must live in the same household to minimize risk."



The extensive restoration of Antoni Gaudí’s Casa Vicens began in 2015. It was led by architects José Antonio Martínez Lapeña and Elías Torres of Martínez Lapeña-Torres Arquitectes, and David García of Daw Office, who helped convert the 19th-century house into a public museum.



"In Casa Vicens, Gaudí recreated the figurative worlds that were fashionable at the time, but in a highly personal way," the team of architects stated in a previous interview. "As a whole, [the building] heralds and displays the creative freedom that would become the hallmark of his entire future oeuvre."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
Trump Called Viktor Orbán: "Why Are You Using the Veto"
Horror in the Skies: Plane Engine Exploded, Passengers Sent Farewell Messages
MSNBC Rebrands as MS NOW Amid Comcast’s Cable Spin-Off
AI in Policing: Draft One Helps Speed Up Reports but Raises Legal and Ethical Concerns
Shame in Norway: Crown Princess’s Son Accused of Four Rapes
Apple Begins Simultaneous iPhone 17 Production in India and China
A Robot to Give Birth: The Chinese Announcement That Shakes the World
Finnish MP Dies by Suicide in Parliament Building
Outrage in the Tennis World After Jannik Sinner’s Withdrawal Storm
×