Casa Amatller has inaugurated a new digital space where new technologies offer visitors the chance to travel to the modernist Barcelona of 1900, when the city walls fell and the city began to grow.
What was originally the interior courtyard and basement of the Casa Amatller, has now become the Museu Digital, the first modernist experience that connects tradition and interactivity. The space has 2000 m², tracing the origins of Catalan modernism, having a family area as well as an area with personal objects of the Amatller family. In addition, a spectacular 360º immersive room enters visitors to a real and mythological world thanks to the dragons. A virtual reality room allows visitors to travel on the back of a little dragon through the emblematic house.
The dome changes its projections, showing the evolution of Barcelona on an economic, social and artistic level, as well as the fall of the city walls in 1854. Pau Venteu
The walls fell down and Barcelona’s art rose up
The museum is divided into two floors, starting with the permanent exhibition, while the subway floor houses the temporary exhibition, all divided into five spaces. In the permanent area, with three rooms, a large dome welcomes visitors by projecting the history of Catalan modernism, along with personages of the time who contributed to it. A journey through the evolution of Barcelona, when the walls collapsed and how the Eixample became an area where the bourgeoisie reflected their spirit and desire to innovate.
The family area has the illustrated animation of Pilarín Bayés with the Apple of Discord, and next to it the characters of the time.
Leaving behind documents and projections, there is the animated composition of the apple of discord, illustrated by the Catalan artist Pilarín Bayés. This area is especially dedicated to the family, and for the youngest children to be an active part of the exhibition. Pere Barcons, one of the contributors to create the Museu Digital, told us that they sought to create a transversal space for the whole family. A place where children will paint the eight drawings of the characters on the tables to later scan them and have them appear in Pilarín’s animation. A space to interact and learn. The most intimate area dedicated to the Amatller family is in the third permanent room. Personal objects such as purses, travel albums, coins and cameras are displayed in the showcases.
The fire power of modernist dragons
The first temporary exhibition housed in the immersive room is dedicated to the figure of the dragon in modernism. The mythological animal is represented on the façade, farolas or figures if we walk through the building (60 dragons). In fact, during the works to create the new space, they found the figure of a small dragon, exposed in the tour. The 360º audiovisual experience, Dracs. Llegendes de foc, envelops us, for 25 minutes, in a world where dragons watch over us.
The immersive exhibition begins its projection with symbolic figures such as the shape of Gaudí’s hexagonal tiles. Pau Venteo
From images, animations and the soundtrack, El petit ocell, composed expressly, we enter into stories and myths. A script that shows us La Casa Amatller, the connection between dragons and modernism and the figure of them around the world. The traditional legend of Sant Jordi and the red roses from the spilled blood, to the strength and fortune it represents in China.
Many myths and legends surround the dragon. Depending on the territory, these mythological beings reflect good or bad luck. Like the bad omen in Egypt and the power it had for the Vikings.
To end the journey in a magical way, leaving the immersive room, is the area equipped with virtual reality glasses. For eight minutes visitors climb on the back of a small dragon that is part of the decoration of the house. It flies over the different rooms of the building until it decides to enter the chimney and go outside. Once outside, the clouds envelop the city of Barcelona until the most mythical buildings of the modernist era come into view. A historical journey that, thanks to new technologies, you can experience as if you were present at that time. Highly recommended for those looking for art and culture among the streets of our city.
Where? Passeig de Gràcia, 41, Barcelona.
Hours: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm.
Tickets: You can purchase the ticket here.
