Nowadays, few people have not heard of the architect and the Sagrada Familia, his most famous work. Catalans idolize Gaudi, because it was thanks to him that Barcelona acquired its unique style.
Biography of Antonio Gaudi reveals a lot of interesting points about his life, despite the fact that all his life the genius was a rather reserved person, having practically no friends. Architecture was the main meaning of his life, an element in which he did not give concessions to anyone, often being harsh and cruel with workers. Antonio Gaudi i Cornet born on June 25, 1852 in Reus (Catalonia), or in a village near this town, becoming the fifth child in the family. It is the fact that his entire childhood was spent near the sea that explains the bizarre shapes of the genius’s buildings, reminiscent of sand castles. Even as a child, Antonio suffered from pneumonia and rheumatism. Due to his illnesses, he had practically no friends, so the boy was often alone with nature, even then dreaming of becoming an architect. Subsequently, this influenced the creation of forms in his creations that were close to natural.
Since 1868, Gaudi moved to Barcelona, where he took architectural courses. One of the teachers called him either a genius or crazy for his unconventional projects. Gaudi never used drawings or computers; in his work he was guided only by intuition, making all calculations in his mind. It cannot be said that the architect was in search of his own style; he simply saw the world this way, creating masterpieces of architecture. Here we can point out the fact that Antonio’s ancestors, right up to his great-grandfathers, were boilermakers; the most complex products were made “by eye”, without drawings. This apparently was their family trait. In 1878, he was finally noticed and received his first commission - designing a Barcelona street lamp. The following year the project was fully implemented.
House of Vicens
The House of Vicens (Casa Vicens, 1878) was designed for diploma student and building materials manufacturer Manuel Vincens at the beginning of Gaudí's architectural career. The house has a simple rectangular plan, built of stone and brick, but the architect equipped the building with rich ceramic decoration and so many extensions, turrets and balconies that the house looked like a fairy-tale palace. The master drew inspiration from ancient Arab architecture. Gaudi himself designed the window bars and garden fence, and also made sketches of the interior of the dining room and smoking room. This project was the first to use the experience of creating a parabolic arch. This villa can be seen on Carolines Street, unfortunately now without a garden.
His career began with very modest commissions, in addition to a street lamp for Royal Square, he was involved in the design of store windows and designed street toilets. But thanks to this, he was noticed by the wealthy industrialist Count Eusebio Güell y Bacigalupi, who became his patron and regular customer until the count’s death in 1918. Count Guell gave Gaudí complete freedom, thereby allowing him to express himself. Everything that Antonio built for Güell became a collection of masterpieces that Barcelona is so proud of.
Gaudí's first work for Count Güell was the construction of the count's estate in the district of Garraf (1884-1887). Only the gate with the forged dragon remained intact; the appearance of the mighty monster on the gate was very symbolic, since it is part of the emblem of Catalonia, and its curves follow the outlines of the Draco constellation. This was what Gaudi was all about; all his buildings and sculptures are imbued with symbolism. Next to the gate are the entrance pavilions, which formerly housed the stables, the riding arena and the gatekeeper's house, and now the Gaudí Research Center. The domed turrets on these pavilions are reminiscent of the book One Thousand and One Nights.
Gaudí’s most unique work for the count was the building of the Barcelona residence of the Güells (1886-1891). This building is a clear reflection of Gaudí's own style. A unique combination of materials and multi-colors creates fantastic images. The roof of this building is covered with decorative chimneys and ventilation pipes of unimaginable types, none of which are repeated. Gaudi did not forget about the practicality of his buildings; thanks to the huge arches, it was easy for carriages to enter the stables located under the house. Inside the house there was a spacious main hall, which was crowned with a dome with holes, so that even during the day, raising your head, it seemed as if you were looking at the starry sky. Everything in this building was designed by Gaudí, the balcony railings, the furniture, the stucco on the ceilings, the columns (forty different shapes).
The architect's main dream was to build churches; he was a deeply religious man. I contacted him Catholic Church with a request to complete the building of the College of the Sisters of the Order of St. Teresa, which had been abandoned by another architect. The order's funds were very meager, since the order took a vow of poverty. But Gaudi was able to give this building a sophisticated, sophisticated style, decorating it not luxuriously, but modestly: with the coats of arms of the order, turrets with crosses and arches.
Another order of the church was the episcopal palace in Astorga (1887-1893), which he never managed to finish, since the academy fine arts in Madrid, whose permission was required for the implementation of this project, hounded the architect with amendments, and he abandoned the work, as he defended every stroke on his drawings. The palace was completed by a different architect, but retained the general appearance of Gaudi, reminiscent of medieval castles with its turrets and buttresses.
However, of course, the most famous work of the master remains the Sagrada Familia (Cathedral of the Holy Family), made in an atypical style for temple architecture. Construction of the cathedral architect Antonio Gaudi devoted a lot of time and effort, starting it in 1883, however, the building was never completed due to the death of Antoni Gaudi. After the genius passed away, the Sagrada Familia project remained unfinished, since Antonio did not like to draw, and there were no original drawings left after him. The forms and symbolism of the cathedral are so complex, and Gaudí's working method is so unique, that all subsequent attempts to continue the construction looked too uncertain.
In addition to the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona is home to 13 major buildings by Antoni Gaudí, which give the city a unique flavor and give an idea of the style of the brilliant creator. These include Casa Mila (a residential building whose walls are painted on the inside, and on a flat, uneven roof there are chimneys lined with pieces of glass and ceramics), Casa Batllo (the wavy, scaly roof of which resembles a giant snake), Porta Mirales (a rounded wall , covered with tiles made of tortoiseshell), Park Güell (which is an urban style in nature, there is not a single straight line here, this park has become the pearl of Barcelona), the church of the Güell country estate, the Bellesguard house (a villa in the form of a Gothic castle with stained glass windows of a complex star shape ) and of course many others, since, having become “fashionable” among wealthy citizens, he did not go out of it until the end of his life.
Architect Antonio Gaudi died when hit by a tram on June 7, 1926. There is widespread information that on this day the first tram was launched in Barcelona and that it was supposedly that the architect was crushed by it, but this is just a legend. Gaudi was an unkempt old man and was mistaken for a homeless man. He died three days later on June 10, in a homeless shelter, but he was identified quite by chance by an elderly woman. And thanks to her, the great architect was not buried in a common grave, but was buried with honors in the building of his entire life, the Temple of the Holy Family, where you can see his grave and death mask.
By decision of UNESCO, Park Güell, Palace Güell and Casa Mila were declared heritage of humanity.
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The world-famous Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi (1852-1926) managed to create 18 masterpieces, which for many decades have been considered the pinnacle of an innovative and unique style. To this day, some consider his fantastic constructions to be ingenious, while others consider them simply crazy. The bulk of these works are located in the master’s native Barcelona, which became not only his home, but also a kind of strange laboratory in which Gaudi conducted amazing architectural experiments.
Although it is generally accepted that the Spanish architect worked in the Art Nouveau style, it is impossible to fit his projects into the framework of any movement at all. He lived and created according to rules that only he understood, adhering to incomprehensible laws, so all the master’s work is better classified as “Gaudi style.”
Today we will get acquainted with several of his masterpieces, which are rightfully considered the pinnacle of architectural art. In fairness, it should be noted that out of 18 of his projects, seven were included by UNESCO in the list of World Heritage Sites!
1. Casa Vicens (1883-1885), the first project of Antoni Gaudí
The Vicens residence, the first independent creation of the architect, was created by order of the wealthy industrialist Manuel Vicens. The house is still the main decoration of Carolines Street (Carrer de les Carolines), considered the most striking and unusual landmark of Barcelona, which is included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
This house was built in the Art Nouveau style and forms a four-level architectural ensemble, in which even the smallest details play an important role.
Since Gaudi was a supporter of natural motifs and drew inspiration from them, every element of this unusual house was a reflection of his preferences.
Floral motifs are present everywhere, from the forged fencing, as well as the facade itself, to the interior. The creator's favorite images were yellow marigolds and palm leaves.
The structure of the Vicens house itself, including its decoration, shows the influence of oriental architecture. The decor of the entire unusual complex is made in the Moorish Mudejar style. It is clearly evident in the design of the Muslim turrets on the roof and in some details of the luxurious interior decoration.
2. Pavillons Guell
For Count Eusebi Güell, who after this grandiose project became not only the patron of the great master, but also a friend, Antonio Gaudi created an extraordinary estate, which is better known as the Güell Pavilions (1885-1886).
Fulfilling the count's order, the extraordinary architect not only carried out a complete reconstruction of the summer country estate with the improvement of the park and the creation of stables and an indoor arena, but combined all these ordinary buildings so that they turned into a fairy-tale complex.
When creating these pavilions, Antonio was the first to use a special technology – trencadís, which consists in using irregularly shaped pieces of ceramic or glass to cover the façade. By covering the surfaces of all rooms with the same pattern in a special way, he achieved an amazing resemblance to dragon scales.
3. City residence Guell (Palau Guell)
This fantastic project for his friend Antonio Gaudi in 1886-1888 is an unusual palace that the master managed to create on an area of less than 400 square meters!
Knowing the owner’s main desire to amaze the city’s elite with the luxury of his home, the architect masterfully developed a very unusual project, which made it possible to create a truly extraordinary and fabulously rich castle. His style mixed centuries-old traditions, innovative techniques and ideas, which he applied with equal success in subsequent complexes.
The main highlight of this architecturally interesting palace is the chimneys, which look like bright, outlandish sculptures. Such splendor was achieved thanks to cladding with fragments of ceramics and natural stone.
The gables and roof terrace, which is designed for spectacular walks, delight visitors with incredible views of the city and the “magic garden” created by the amazing stove tubes.
4. Parc Guell
The project of the unusual Park Güell (1903-1910) was conceived in an effort to create a garden city, as a counterbalance to the growing industrialization of the country and protection from its dire consequences.
The huge plot was bought by the count for these purposes, but the townspeople did not support the author’s idea and instead of 60 houses, only three exhibition copies were built. Over time, the city bought these lands and turned them into a recreation park, where the delightful gingerbread houses of the architect Antoni Gaudi flaunt.
Since an elite village was planned here, Gaudi created not only all the necessary communications, but also planned picturesque streets and squares. The most striking structure was the “100 Columns” hall, to which a special staircase leads, and on the roof there is a stunningly bright bench that completely encircles the contours of the complex.
This garden city still delights its visitors with its extraordinary architecture and decoration; it is also included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
5. Casa Batllo
Casa Batllo(1904-1906) resembles an ominous figure of a dragon, which is lined with mosaic scales and is capable of changing its color depending on the time of day. As soon as it is not called - “house of bones”, “dragon house”, “yawning house”.
And really, looking at its strange balconies, window grilles, pediments and a roof that resembles the back of a dragon, you will get rid of the impression that these are the remains of a huge monster!
Creating a fantastic patio, to improve and uniform illumination, he achieved a play of chiaroscuro by laying out ceramic tiles in a special way - gradually moving from white to blue and dark blue.
According to tradition, the roof of the house was decorated with its outlandish chimney towers.
6. Casa Mila - Pedrera (Casa Mila)
This is the last residential building created by the great architect. It is better known as “La Pedrera”, which means “the quarry”. It is considered the most incredible residential building project not only in Barcelona, but also in the world.
Initially, the masters did not accept this creation and considered it complete madness. Incredibly, Antonio and the owner of this building were even fined for non-compliance with existing urban planning regulations.
Over time, people got used to it and even began to consider it a brilliant creation, because during construction, without any calculations or designs, the architect managed to introduce technologies that were several decades ahead of their time.
Only a hundred years later, similar technology was developed by design institutes and began to be actively used in ultra-modern construction.
7. Cathedral of the Holy Family (Temple Expiatori De La Sagrada Familia)
The brilliant architect devoted the last forty years of his life to bringing his most unrealistic fantasy to life - enclosing the characters of parables and the main commandments of the New Testament in stone.
Its design is dominated by surreal gothic style, the walls are decorated with images of saints and all sorts of creatures of God, from turtles, salamanders, snails to forests, starry sky and the entire Universe.
Tall columns and unusual paintings decorate the interior of the temple (Temple Expiatori De La Sagrada Familia).
However, the construction of such a large-scale cathedral is still ongoing. Since the architect kept all the drawings and plans in his head, it took years to continue construction to make such complex calculations. Incredibly, only NASA’s program, which calculates the trajectory of space projects, could cope with this task!
Thanks to extraordinary architects, even in our time, unique buildings are created, which can be considered pretentious in form.
Gaudi is an outstanding Catalan architect who created many famous buildings in Barcelona. World history does not know many architects who so strongly influenced the views of their cities and created something so significant for their national culture. Gaudi is the most famous architect in Spain. His work marked the peak of Spanish Art Nouveau. The peculiarity of his style is that the sources of the architect’s fantasies were natural forms (trees, clouds, animals, rocks). It was nature that primarily determined the work of the sculptor and architect Gaudi when he solved various problems - both artistic and constructive.
The architect did not like closed spaces, as well as geometrically correct forms. That’s why he fundamentally rejected straight lines. He believed that a straight line is a creation of man, while a circle is a creation of God. Therefore, Antoni Gaudi used only curved surfaces, creating his own original style. The architect Gaudi and his houses are known far beyond the borders of Catalonia and Spain.
Life and work of Gaudi
The architect was born on June 25, 1852, near Barcelona. His family belonged to a dynasty of hereditary masons. In 1868 he moved to Barcelona and there in 1873-78. studied at the Higher Technical School of Architecture, and also mastered various crafts (blacksmithing, carpentry, etc.) in the workshop of E. Punti.
In 1870-82. was engaged in the execution of applied orders (sketches of lanterns, fences, etc.) in the workshop of F. Villar and E. Sala. His first construction, which can be considered independent (the fountain on Plaça Catalunya in 1877), demonstrated the brightness and whimsicality of Gaudí's imagination.
Antonio Gaudi died tragically on 06/07/1926 in Barcelona. He was hit by a tram not far from the Sagrada Familia. At the end of his life, the architect behaved strangely, walked in an unkempt manner, so he was taken to a hospital for the poor, where he died. He was buried in the Cathedral of the Holy Family.
The origins of the architect's own style
IN Western Europe at that moment neo-Gothic reigned. In his youth, Gaudí adhered to the ideas of such representatives of the neo-Gothic style as the French architect Viollet-le-Duc (the largest restorer of Gothic churches in the 19th century, who restored, in particular, the Cathedral Notre Dame of Paris) and English art critic John Ruskin, author of the article “Decorativeness is the beginning of architecture,” which completely coincided with the thoughts of Gaudí himself and for many years was the code of his work. However, he was most influenced by Catalan Gothic, which interestingly combined European and Moorish motifs. It is this combination that permeates the architecture of Antoni Gaudi.
This building was built in 1880-83. During its construction, the architect used polychrome effects typical of ceramic cladding. Gaudí's buildings, built in his “mature” period, are distinguished by the use of this technique. This house by Gaudí was built for the owner of a ceramics factory, M. Vicens, and resembled a fairy-tale palace. In an effort to realize the desire of the building’s customer, industrialist Vicens, to see a “kingdom of ceramics” in this house, the architect used iridescent multi-colored majolica tiles to cover the walls, decorated the ceilings with stucco “stalactites,” and installed fancy gazebos and lanterns in the courtyard.
The residential building itself and the buildings in the garden formed a beautiful architectural ensemble, to create which Gaudi for the first time tested his signature techniques: large quantities of ceramic finishing, plastic fluid forms, bold combinations of elements of different styles, contrasts of dark and light, vertical and horizontal elements and so on.
In 1891, the architect received an order for a new cathedral in Barcelona - a temple (i.e., the Church of the Holy Family). This building became the maximum manifestation of his imagination. Realizing the enormous significance of this building as a symbol of the entire national revival of Catalonia, Gaudí concentrated entirely on its construction from 1910, setting up his own workshop here.
The style of the cathedral is similar to Gothic, but also contains something new, more modern. This building can accommodate a choir of 1,500 singers, 5 organs, and a children's choir of 700 people. The cathedral was supposed to be major center Catholicism. Its construction was supported by the then Pope Leon 13th.
Although Gaudi was engaged in the construction of this temple for 35 years, he only managed to build and decorate the Nativity façade, which in structural terms is eastern part transept, with 4 towers above it, while the western part of the apse, which makes up most of the entire monumental cathedral, remains unfinished to this day. Construction of the Sagrada Familia continues to this day.
Casa Batllo
This is one of the most famous buildings Gaudí, built 1904-06. and became the fruit of his original imagination, which was of purely literary origin. The house is the embodiment of the story of St. George slaying the dragon. The 2 lower floors resemble the skeleton of a dragon, the wall resembles dragon skin, the roof with a peculiar pattern resembles a dragon’s spine. On the roof there is a small tower and chimneys of various intricate shapes. They are decorated with ceramics and combined into several groups.
The project masterfully used color harmony and plasticity of the material. The sculptural decoration of the building looks as if it consists of living forms that froze only for a moment. The completion of this decor is the design of the roof, which resembles a dragon’s back.
Gaudí's architectural masterpieces include (1906-10) - famous building Art Nouveau style, which received the nickname “La Pedrera” (i.e. “the quarry”) because of its whimsicality. It is a 6-story apartment building located on the corner, with 2 courtyards and 6 light wells.
The entire building as a whole and each individual apartment in it have a curved, complex layout. Initially, the architect tried to make each internal partition curved, but later he had to abandon this idea and give them a broken shape, which creates a contrast with the wavy facade. For Casa Mila, new design solutions were used: the absence of load-bearing internal walls, the support of interfloor ceilings with external walls and columns, an important constructive value balconies.
The unusual architecture of Antoni Gaudi is the decoration of Barcelona. In the capital of Catalonia, 14 buildings of the master of modernism have been preserved: Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, houses, small architectural forms. All Gaudi's masterpieces in Barcelona with a map and description. Addresses, opening hours, ticket prices, what to see for free and how to avoid standing in lines.
Before you go to see Gaudi's works, plan your time and calculate your budget. Barcelona's attractions are some of the most popular and expensive in Europe. The queue for the Sagrada Familia can take 2 hours, and a ticket to Casa Batllo costs €23.50.
What to do? Choose only the most interesting places with paid admission and book tickets online. In many cases, you can limit yourself to an external inspection or visit the free part.
Barcelona transport and discount cards
Casa Batlló
A special feature of Casa Batllo is the almost complete absence of straight lines. The facade of the building depicts the sparkling scales of a monster with the bones and skulls of its victims.
- address: Passeig de Gracia 43
- opening hours: Mon-Sun 9:00-21:00
- tickets: €23.50/€20.50
- 20% discount with Barcelona City Pass
Casa Milà, La Pedrera
Gaudí's last secular work, an example of Catalan modernism. The panoramic roof terrace is decorated with sculptures of mythological creatures that serve as a practical ventilation function.
- address: Carrer de Provenca 261
- opening hours:
- from March 3 to November 1 Mon-Sun 9:00-20:30
- from November 2 Mon-Sun 9:00-18:30
- tickets: €22/€16.50/€11
- Casa Mila at night - night tour, projections in the rooms, audiovisual show on the roof terrace, glass of champagne.
- 20% discount with Barcelona City Pass
Online tickets without queues
Casa Vicens
Built in the Mudejar style with ceramic finishing and a parabolic arch. Gaudí's first major order from manufacturer Manuel Vicens. Included in the UNESCO World Heritage List (2005). For a long time it was privately owned and opened to the public in November 2017.
- address: Carrer de les Carolines 24
- opening hours:
- Mon-Sun 10:00-18:00
- tickets: €16/€14
The Spanish architect Gaudi and his houses, which have become iconic in world architecture, turned the capital of Spain, Barcelona, into an architectural pearl. In what style did a unique, gifted person work, who additionally combined an artist, a sculptor and a builder? What is the secret of his creativity? What is the fate of a genius?
Gaudi - style in the service of tradition
The founder of his own architectural style, Antonio Gaudi i Cornet The Catalan architect, born on June 25, 1852, through his work expressed the cultural characteristics of his homeland through the fusion of architectural styles and traditions. It does not fit into any architectural movement. His work is unique and completely different from generally accepted concepts. And the power of the aesthetic experience of Gaudi’s creations only becomes greater over time.
There is not a single straight line in its structures. Architectural forms flow from one to another. He modestly built according to the laws of Nature and did not strive to surpass it.
What is the originality of Gaudi's style?
In 1878, the director of the Barcelona School of Architecture, Elies Rogent, said of Antonio at his graduation ceremony: “We have given this academic title to either a blockhead or a genius. Time will show". At first, Gaudi participated in competitions without success, studied crafts, designed fences, lanterns, and furniture.
“Nothing is invented, everything originally exists in nature. Originality is a return to the roots,” the master said about his works. The hallmark of Gaudí's style was the expression of natural forms in architecture.
Gaudi's style is
- the world of uneven surfaces such as we see in nature;
- design solutions proposed by nature;
- decorativeness that exists in nature;
- continuation of the space created by nature.
Five years after graduating from the School of Architecture in Barcelona, he received his first important commission from the owner of a ceramic factory, Manuel Vicens.
Bad luck - the beginning: the house of ceramics tycoon Vicens
Casa Vicens (1883-1888) is a residential building for the owner of a ceramic factory, which is clearly reflected in the facade "trencadis" (i.e. the use of ceramic waste). Gaudi decorated the facade of the house with a mosaic of pieces of tiles, which was completely unusual in the use of building materials.
At this time, in Europe there was an interest in the neo-Gothic style with the motto “Decorativeness is the beginning of architecture.” Gaudi also adhered to this rule in his works. His work at the time was reminiscent of the Moorish (or Mudejar) style of architecture, a unique blend of Muslim and Christian design in Spain.
A private house opens its doors to visitors once a year, on May 22. Everyone can appreciate the building's detailed design, starting with the mosaics exterior finishing, and ending with stained glass windows and wall paintings.
Incredible luck and Gaudí's only unrequited love
In 1878, Antoni Gaudí decided to display his work at the Paris World Exhibition. His work impressed the richest man in Catalonia, esthete and philanthropist, Eusebi Güell. He provided Antonio with what every creator dreams of: complete freedom of expression with an unlimited budget!
Gaudi carries out projects for the family
- pavilions of the estate in Pedralbes near Barcelona;
- wine cellars in Garraf,
- chapels and crypt of the Colony Güell (Santa Coloma de Cervelho);
- the fantastic Park Guella and its palace in Barcelona.
This was the best and at the same time sad period in the personal life of the architect. The only girl who turned out to be worthy of his attention, Josepha Moreu, did not reciprocate his feelings. Having accepted his fate, Gaudi devoted himself entirely to creativity and religion.
Royal garden in Gaudi style
Gaudí's first large-scale project for his great patron, Eusebi Güell, was the pavilions of the estate. Construction took place between 1883 and 1887. Landscape design park of the count's summer residence, which today has become a park Royal Palace, entrance gates, pavilions, stables bear the characteristic features of the early period of creativity.
Most interesting work the complex contained a northern cast-iron gate. They are decorated with floral motifs in the style, and a medallion with the letter “G”. An impressive feature is the large wrought iron dragon with glass eyes.
This is the same Ladon who turns into the constellation Serpen for stealing golden apples. Its figure corresponds to the location of the stars in the constellation.
Palace Güell (Palau Güell) (1885-1890)
The residence of the philanthropist's family became the architect's first building in which structural elements also serve a decorative function. Antonio uses steel supporting structures as decoration.
The façade of the building features two pairs of large gates through which horse-drawn carriages and carts could proceed directly to the lower stables and cellars, while guests could climb the stairs to the upper floors.
The soul of the creator is looking for new forms. From the outside, the house has a calm façade reminiscent of a Venetian palazzo. But the interior and roof make up for the lack of Gaudí style elements on the exterior.
Living room of Palace Guella with star ceiling in Gaudi style In the central living room, an unusual parabolic dome is dotted with round holes that make the ceiling look starry during the day.
The silhouettes of chimneys and ventilation shafts opening onto the roof take on various fantastic shapes. The roof is reminiscent of Park Güell.
The rich interiors of the palace combine works of decorative and applied art, intarsia (wood inlays) and custom-made furniture.
The design of the walls and flat vaults of the palace is unique. In 1984, Palace Güell, along with other architectural masterpieces of Gaudí, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Expression of Gaudí's style in the architecture of Park Guella
In 1900 - 1914, Gaudí worked on creating a park residential area in the English style. To implement the concept of a garden city, fashionable in those years, Guell acquired 15 hectares of land for the construction of 62 private mansions. The project's economic failures forced his heirs to sell the park to the city. Now it houses Gaudi's house-museum.
For this site, Gaudí designed two magnificent entrance pavilions that serve as gates. A large ornamented staircase leads to the Hypostyle Hall, intended by the architect as a place for a market. The esplanade is surrounded by a long serpentine bench made of precast concrete blocks clad in ceramic mosaic.
Devoted to his principles, Gaudí used only local materials. He designed the system of streets and viaducts in such a way that their construction had minimal impact on the environment. They were maximally adapted to the landscape.
This principle makes his architecture and some researchers of his work call Gaudi's style eco-modern.
Gaudi and his houses “From the Bones” and “Quarry”
Thanks to his inimitable style, Gaudi becomes the most fashionable architect in Barcelona. It turns into “unaffordable luxury”, creating houses one more unusual than the other. The Spanish bourgeoisie spend their fortunes on the implementation of the artist's brilliant ideas.
Casa Batllo or House of Bones. Barcelona residents also call it “Yawning” and “Dragon House”, its façade is so diverse. Gaudi's style is a reverently respectful relationship with the Creator, which was established in childhood. Rheumatism limited the boy from playing with his peers, but did not interfere with long solo walks on a donkey.
Observing the world around him, the architect drew inspiration to solve constructive or decorative architectural problems for clients. In his work, he used elements of a wide variety of styles, transforming them into a special direction called Spanish ( modernismo).
Why did the city authorities criticize the House of Bones?
The fruit of the architect's whimsical imagination - the residential building of textile magnate Josep Batlló (Casa Batlló) - became a living, trembling creature. Gaudí reconstructed an existing building in 1904-1906, awaiting demolition. He used typical structural elements of Catalan architecture: ceramics, stone and wrought iron.
Although the work was criticized by the city, in 1906 the Barcelona City Council recognized him as one of the three best buildings of the year.
Due to the radical design, Gaudí violated all city bylaws during construction. And not because he is a “prankster”, but because the author’s style went beyond the limiting framework of traditional architecture and urban planning. Those in power had to change the laws.
Which building was Gaudí's last secular work?
Quarry house in Barcelona in Gaudi styleIn 1906, another great loss occurred in the life of the architect: his father, a blacksmith and boilermaker, Francesc Gaudí i Sierra, died. According to Antonio, it was in his father’s workshop that he felt space as living matter. His father taught him to understand the beauty of the objective world and instilled in him a love of architecture and drawing.
This is not the first loss in the master’s life. Having been born as the fifth child in the family, this year he was left completely alone with his niece in his care, whom he buried 6 years later.
It was during this period that Antonio's new ideas were embodied in the house for the Mila family (casa Mila, 1906 - 1910). His innovation was as follows.
- He is thinking over a natural ventilation system, which makes it possible to avoid air conditioning.
- Constructs a building without load-bearing and supporting walls (reinforced concrete structure with load-bearing columns). This makes it possible to move the interior partitions in each apartment at your discretion. Today this technology is popular among builders of monolithic frame houses.
- Sets up an underground garage.
- Every room in the house has a window, which is also unusual for the early 20th century. For this purpose, three courtyards are provided.
The undulating facade is a harmonious mass of all kinds of stone, which, along with the wrought iron balconies, was nicknamed “the quarry” or La Pedrera by Barcelona residents.
One of Gaudi's most interesting design solutions is the attic of the house. The room, once intended for washing and drying clothes, has now become the site of a permanent exhibition of Gaudí's work and life.
This building became the first structure of the twentieth century included in the UNESCO heritage (1984). And during construction, the customer and the builders paid more than one fine for violating generally accepted standards.
Casa Mila was the last secular work before the architect devoted himself entirely to the work of the Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family (Sagrada Familia). He no longer took on new orders, but worked on finishing current projects.
Colony Crypt of Guella
The word “colony” does not at all carry the meaning of “corrective labor.” What is this you can read at channel Zen Architecture.
The crypt, in this case, means the lower floor of the church, which Gaudí began construction in 1908 and completed in 1914, commissioned by his friend and philanthropist Eusebi Güell. The architect was tasked with providing a cultural and religious basis for the life of the town of workers employed in the industrialist's production.
Interior of the crypt of a church in the Colony of Guella. The columns are made of basalt, brick and limestone depending on the load. Following his principles, Gaudi organically integrated the church into the landscape of the area. For the interior, he designed amazing benches made of wood and iron, reflecting his roots as a hereditary blacksmith.
More details about the masterpiece Colony Guell crypt, if interested, read on the Zen Architecture channel.
The brilliance and poverty of the architect Gaudi
A dandy in his youth, a gourmet and theatergoer who traveled in his own carriage, in adulthood began to lead an ascetic lifestyle. On June 7, 1926, he, a 73-year-old man, dressed in a shabby suit and without documents, was hit by a tram. Not knowing that this was a great architect, the victim was taken to a hospital for the poor. The next day, the chaplain (Gaudi's main creation, to which he devoted more than 40 years) found him and transported him to another hospital. But the best doctors were powerless.
The architecture of Antonio Gaudi, his houses in Barcelona, which became world heritage humanity, you will recognize it even if you are not at all familiar with his work. They continue to build and hope to complete it by 2026.
