Relying heavily on the professionalism and experience of a group of manufacturers, craftsmen and artists, Puig i Cadafalch drew up a design which was not limited to the purely architectural but encompassed the most insignificant decorative details. A close collaboration between client and architect resulted in a building made-to-measure for Antoni Amatller; with his photographic studio in the attic (which gave rise to the unusual use of a stepped pediment), the display cabinets for his glass collection, and an allegorical portrait of the owner on the facade which represents the three characteristics which best defined him: industry, photography and collecting.

The Casa Amatller was declared a Monument of National Interest (Royal decree 248/1976 - January 9^th, 1976), and is an outstanding example of modernista architecture in Barcelona. It is one the buildings of the so-called manzana de la discordia or "apple of discord". The name is a pun on the Spanish word manzana which means "apple" and also "block" in a city, and equates the three figures of modernista architecture -- Puig i Cadafalch, Domènech i Muntaner and Gaudí -- who all designed buildings on this block, with the three goddesses -- Hera, Athena and Aphrodite -- who competed with each other for a golden apple which Paris had to award to the most beautiful, an event which led to the Trojan war.