On February 1 and 2, 2025, the façade of Casa Batlló will once again captivate the public with its annual mapping, which, after four years, has established itself as one of the most outstanding audiovisual spectacles in the world. Its latest edition attracted over 95,000 people.
Titled Arborescent, this exclusive mapping pays homage to nature by mimicking natural behaviors and dynamics of the botanical world, featuring tree-like branching structures that unfold across the façade of Casa Batlló. The piece Arborescent reveals the hidden geometry of nature, its pictorial expressiveness, and arboreal formations brought to life through algorithm-based visualizations.
Quayola explains: “These arboreal formations grow, connect with architectural elements, and sway as if moved by an algorithmic noise mimicking the behavior of the wind. Thus, the arboreal forms paint the façade with shades and tones, creating a hybrid space that is both suspended and contemplative.”
The projection is accompanied by an original soundtrack composed by the artist, combining traditional instrumental aesthetics with a new algorithmic composition. Created using custom software developed by Quayola himself, the music enhances the crescendo of the production, following the movement and growth of the plants along the architecture.
For more information, Casa Batlló has published a trailer and a video about the creation of Arborescent.
Blending botanical and architectural structures
One of the greatest challenges of the project was integrating botanical behaviors into the architectural geometry of the façade. Trees and shrubs organically branch out across the façade, merging botanical and architectural inspirations with a new digital/algorithmic aesthetic.
Quayola says: “The most fascinating part of the creative process was simulating the impact of artificial wind on various tree species. The movement of each branch swaying in the wind becomes a new object of contemplation.”
Renowned for reinventing historical heritage, Quayola synthesizes Gaudí’s architectural inspirations, drawing from nature to create a personal and innovative work that questions our relationship with technology, tradition, and the environment.
Quayola adds: “I am constantly exploring new relationships with the heritage of our visual culture, and having the opportunity to work with such an iconic symbol as Casa Batlló is truly special. Delving into Gaudí’s work has reaffirmed the infinite power of nature as an inexhaustible source of artistic inspiration.”
About Quayola
Quayola uses technology as a lens to explore the tensions and balances between seemingly opposing forces: the real and the artificial, the figurative and the abstract, the old and the new. Through immersive installations, he interacts with and reimagines canonical images using contemporary technology. Landscape painting, classical sculpture, and iconography are some of the historical aesthetics that serve as starting points for Quayola’s hybrid compositions.
His work has been presented and exhibited at numerous prestigious institutions worldwide, including the V&A Museum, London; Park Avenue Armory, New York; National Art Center, Tokyo; UCCA, Beijing; How Art Museum, Shanghai; SeMA, Seoul; Palais de Tokyo, Paris; Ars Electronica, Linz; Sonar Festival, Barcelona; and the Sundance Film Festival. In 2013, Quayola received the Golden Nica at Ars Electronica.
ISE Fair, Main Sponsor
This year, Casa Batlló has Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) as the main sponsor of the mapping, the world’s largest audiovisual systems fair, celebrating its 5th edition in Barcelona.
Mike Blackman, Managing Director of ISE, stated: “We are proud to support a new mapping on the iconic Casa Batlló building. It’s hard to describe the audience’s experience during this spectacle, brought to life by audiovisual technology and spectacular digital artworks. The creativity of artists like Quayola showcases AV technology in all its beauty.”
The Support of the SONAR Foundation
For this 2025 edition, Casa Batlló has partnered with the SONAR Foundation to integrate the development of this mapping into the promotional and dissemination activities of the “SONAR 30th Anniversary” event. Thanks to this collaboration, art and music converge to further enhance what is already becoming a key highlight of Catalonia’s cultural calendar.
With the collaboration of Mandarin Oriental Barcelona
Additionally, the Mapping 2025 is supported by Mandarin Oriental Barcelona.
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Photos of the artist by Gioele Vettraino
Process images and studio photos by Quayola Studio
Photo of the previous mapping by Claudia Mauriño