Hello friends. You are probably already accustomed to the fact that we tell you about interesting sights, cities, and those places on our planet that you simply cannot help but visit. This time we want to talk about Antonio Gaudi. Let's try to do without enthusiastic epithets - all of them have been said about this architect more than once. Let’s just note: without this man there would not have been the Barcelona, Spain, and even the history of world architecture that we are familiar with. Go.
Antonio Placid Guilhem Gaudí i Cornet was born in 1852 in Catalonia, in the small town of Reus. He was the most youngest child V big family boilermaker Francesc Gaudí i Serra and his wife.
It was thanks to his father’s workshop, as Antonio himself later said, that his biography as an architect began.
His brothers and sister died, and his mother later died. This is how Gaudi’s niece ended up in his care. The three of them, together with their father, settled in Barcelona.
In 1906, his father died; by that time his health was already seriously compromised, and six years later his niece died.
A star is born
By 1878, Gaudí graduated from the school of architecture. After which he began to work as a draftsman, did a lot of auxiliary work, and unsuccessfully took part in various competitions.
What was happening around? And there was excitement around the neo-Gothic style. The idea and the very forms of this direction certainly delighted Gaudi. But he drew inspiration for his projects from the works of Viollet-le-Duc, the Spanish architect Martorel and art critic John Ruskin.
Eugene Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc - French architect, restorer, art critic and architectural historian, neo-Gothic ideologist, founder of architectural restoration. Wikipedia
A turning point in the work of Antoni Gaudi was his acquaintance with Eusebi Güell, who would later become his friend.
One of the richest people in Catalonia, Güell could afford to play around a little, making his wildest dreams come true. Well, Gaudi received in this case complete freedom of expression.
For the Güell family, Antonio created designs for the city palace, the pavilions of their estate, wine cellars, a crypt, a chapel, as well as the one known to everyone.
Bench in Park Guell
Don’t forget about the wonderful examples of furniture that the designer Gaudi came up with and embodied in the houses of Güell.
Gradually, Gaudi went beyond the framework of the then dominant styles, completely immersed himself deep into his own universe of curved surfaces and natural ornaments. And with the completion of construction at the age of 34, the architect had already become a star, whose work not everyone could afford.
For the rich people of Barcelona, he built incredibly different houses - , . They all seemed to live their own bizarre lives, incomprehensible to outsiders.
Interior of Casa Mila
Love, friends, death
The genius devoted all his time to work. They say that he loved only one woman in his life - the teacher Joseph Moreau. But she did not reciprocate. In general, it is believed that the architect was a rather arrogant and rude person. Although people close to me said the opposite.
In his youth, Antonio dressed like a dandy, was a gourmet, and well versed in theater arts. In adulthood, he completely stopped taking care of himself. Often on the streets he was mistaken for a tramp.
The latter fact became, alas, fatal for the architect. On June 7, 1926, Gaudí went to church. At the next intersection he was hit by a tram. The cab driver refused to take the unkempt old man, fearing that he would not be paid for the journey.
In the end, the masters were taken to the doorstep of a hospital for the poor, where they received absolutely primitive first aid. The next day, Gaudi was found by friends, but it was no longer possible to save him. He died on June 10 and was buried in the Sagrada Familia a few days later.
Interior of the Sagrada Familia
It is interesting that in recent decades there has been a program to canonize Gaudi as a saint, the patron saint of architects.
Architecture
The life of the architect was fruitful and colorful. Bright, like its architecture. Many people believe that Gaudi created in the Art Nouveau style. However, in fact, his houses noticeably go beyond the boundaries of one style.
We have already mentioned the most famous works architect. Let's remember a few more.
One of his first works was the Vincennes House, a private residential building that Gaudí built almost immediately after receiving his diploma. And its architecture clearly shows the influence of the Spanish-Arab Mudejar style.
House Vincennes
The master's next creation was the summer mansion El Capriccio in the town of Comillas.
Construction was carried out by order of a relative of Güell. And Gaudi himself never even visited the construction site. This building is known primarily for its constructivist feature - the horizontal distribution of space.
In the territory of León stands another ode to the Gothic, created by Antonio - the Botines House. This seven-level building is practically devoid of external decor. The austere appearance is set off only by the artistic forging of the grille.
But let's go back to Barcelona. Yet this is where most of the great architect’s creations are located.
House Calvet – another one a private house, built by Gaudi.
It was built as apartment building. Here you will no longer see even a hint of Gothic. The design of the building is quite ascetic, which harmonizes well with other buildings in the area.
But take a closer look and you will see a lot of important little things: knockers on the entrance doors represent bedbugs, textile bobbins at the entrance remind of the owner’s profession, floral ornaments hint at the passion of the owners of the house.
And, of course, the symbol of Barcelona, and maybe the whole country - the Sagrada Familia or the Sagrada Familia.
This is probably the most famous long-term construction. Various architects have worked and are working on its creation. One of them was Gaudi. It was his work that formed the basis for the appearance of the building.
Gaudi also made his contribution to the field of landscape architecture and small forms. These include:
- Artigas gardens
- lanterns of Barcelona's Royal Square
- Mirallas Gate and many others.
Repeatedly he worked together with other masters.
This was the life and work of a genius who changed our understanding of architecture.
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In 1852, in a small Catalan town called Reus, he was born the great architect Antonio Gaudi. His family was not rich, but his father, who worked as a simple coppersmith, instilled in his son an extensive love of the craft.
The boy’s addictions and diligent studies were affected by his poor health. Antonio did not have the opportunity to run and play with friends; he spent a long time watching nature - plants, waves, insects. It was then that his dream was formed - the desire to build the way nature itself builds. That's why Great master and had an aversion to standard construction with right angles and lines, which were not touched by the play of light and color.
The upper part of the roof of the Batlo house.
In 1878, Antonio Gaudi graduated from architectural school. Even during his studies, he worked as a draftsman under the guidance of architects F. Villar and E. Sala, studied crafts, carried out small orders (lanterns, fences, benches) - this is where the skills passed on to him by his father came in handy.
At that time, the Neo-Gothic style dominated in Europe, the main features of which formed writer and architect from France Violet le Duc and critic from England John Ruskin. They recommended a thorough study of the Gothic heritage, but not copying exactly this style, but creative processing, revitalizing it with modern elements. Antonio accepted these ideas with unprecedented enthusiasm.
True, such predilections seemed alien and incomprehensible to many people, which doomed Gaudi’s “portfolio” to meagerness. Until 1883, when the aspiring architect met his friend and patron Eusebi Güell, behind the back of the author of today's works there were only two unfinished projects - El Capriccio and Casa Vicens.
House of Vicens
Güell's considerable finances and Antonio's unrestrained fantasies took shape and complemented Catalonia with the magnificent pavilions of the Güell estate, the fantastic Güell Park in Barcelona, as well as the crypt and chapel of Colonia Güell. During his collaboration with Guell, Gaudi had many orders, and the great architect selflessly created houses that looked like sand castles, grottoes and caves. Antonio decorated them variedly and richly, looked for fresh combinations of materials, and invented compromises between decorativeness and functionality.
Grand Staircase of Park Guell
Twisted bench in Park Guell.
According to the established classification, Gaudi's work belongs to the Art Nouveau style. But in fact, it is impossible to place the architect’s works within the framework of any particular style. Antonio Gaudi i Cornet completed 18 projects during his 74 years of life, most of the buildings were built by the Catalan architect himself and are located in Barcelona.
The most amazing fruit of the architect's inspiration is, of course, the Sagrada Familia (Cathedral of the Holy Family). To erect this majestic building, Antonio Gaudi gave almost 40 years of his life, but the temple remained unfinished due to lack of funds. The construction of this sanctuary was carried out only with donations from the townspeople, and the architect himself often walked the streets with his hand outstretched for alms.
Sagrada Familia Cathedral
The concentration of Gaudí's works is the Eixample Quarter. Batlo House (1904-06), which is dressed in scaly mosaics and changes color due to lighting. Barcelona residents nicknamed it the “House of Bones”; you just have to look at this building to understand the reason for this name. The bars of the balconies and windows of the Casa Batlo house seem to be composed of elements of the skeleton of an unknown creature of gigantic stature.
House of Batlo.
In the same Barcelona quarter is the Casa Mila (1905-10), which is better known as “The Quarry” or “La Pedrera”. This is the most incredible residential building in the capital of Catalonia, and perhaps in the world.
House Mila "Quarry"
Gaudi designed incredible fantasies, which were blessed by Mother Nature herself, and then brought them to life... His death in the summer of 1926 was just as incredible and terrible at that time. The brilliant architect was caught by a tram and dragged along the pavement for several meters. Almost all the townspeople came to say goodbye to Antonio Gaudi at the unfinished Sagrada Familia Cathedral. And today the Catholic Church is preparing to consider the possibility of beatifying the architect Gaudi...
Barcelona is a city of eternal smiles, sun and unique architecture. The sights of Antonio Gaudi are a separate chapter in the endless list of must-see places in the capital of Catalonia, and we will introduce them in our article.
Biography of Antonio Gaudi
The famous Catalan architect Antonio Placid Guillem Gaudí i Cornet was born in 1825 into the family of a blacksmith in the small town of Reus, Catalonia. Continuing the family business, the father of the future architect made a living in forging and chasing copper, and from an early age instilled in his son a sense of beauty, drawing and depicting buildings with him.
Antonio grew up as a smart boy who, without special effort were successful at school. His favorite subject was geometry. Even during his school years, the young man began to think about his purpose and felt that his life would be somehow connected with art. One day, during school play, Antonio tried himself as a theater artist and it was then that he realized what he wanted to devote his life to - “painting on stone,” which in subsequent generations would be described as Gaudí’s architecture.
After graduating from school, Gaudi went to a city that is now impossible to imagine without the creations of the Catalan genius - Barcelona.
Architect Antonio Placide Guilhem Gaudí i Cornet is the creator of the most significant landmarks that Catalonia is proud of. Having entered an architectural bureau here as an entry-level position, the young man does not give up his dream of one day starting work on his own project and building his own building.
After four years of living and working in the capital of Catalonia, Gaudí finally entered the Provincial School of Architecture, where he took up his studies with desperate zeal. Already from the first year, teachers noted Antonio, noticing both his talent and his amazing stubbornness, unconventional vision and audacity. Even the rector of the educational institution speaks about these qualities when presenting 26-year-old Gaudi with an architect’s diploma.
Already in his final years, the ambitious Catalan worked on serious projects and did not give up his work until the end of his life. In the summer of 1926 in Barcelona, the famous architect was hit by a tram on his way to church. Mistaking the artist for a homeless man, witnesses to the incident sent him to a hospital for the poor. Only a day later the exhausted old man was recognized as a famous architect, but his condition at that time worsened, and he soon died.
Style
From the moment he graduated from the school of architecture, Antonio's artistic search began. At first he turns to the neo-Gothic style, which was then popular in the south of Europe, then changes course to more intimate modernism, “pseudo-baroque” and gothic. Almost all of Antoni Gaudi's attractions, and there are 17 of them, are located in Catalonia.
Subsequently, each of these directions will leave its mark on Gaudí’s work. However, it is impossible to characterize Gaudi’s style with just one movement: from the first independent buildings of the artist, it becomes clear that their creator is a man outside the rules and time. The concept of “Gaudi decor”, whose style is recognizable always and everywhere, has forever been assigned to him.
Smooth lines and unusual construction of space can be conditionally attributed to modernism, which is either approaching or moving away from neo-Gothic.
The buildings
Fountain in Plaza Catalunya – Fuente en la Plaza de Cataluña
(Catalan name -Font a la Plaça de Catalunya)
The fountain in Plaza Catalunya is considered the first independent work of Antoni Gaudí Antonio's first independent work is the fountain on central square Barcelona - Plaza Catalunya, designed and built in 1877. Now every guest of the capital of Catalonia can admire it when they come to the main square of the city.
Free admission.
Address: Plaza de Catalunya.
How to get there: by metro, the nearest stations are Catalunya and Passeig de Gracia.
Mataronin Workers' Cooperative
(Spanish and Catalan names are identical: Cooperativa Obrera Mataronense)
The first building Gaudí built independently is located near Barcelona, in the town of Mataro. The aspiring architect received the order to design the cooperative in 1878, and worked on it for about four years. Initially, the complex was planned to include residential buildings, a casino and other ancillary buildings, but ultimately only the factory and service buildings were completed.
Mataronin workers' cooperative, whose building was designed by an architectural genius Now access to the building is open, and everyone can look at it, but it can only be of interest to true fans and researchers of the architect’s history. After all, the cooperative, although it inevitably reminds of its creator in every detail, does not represent such artistic value as the other buildings of the genius.
The building is now used as an exhibition space.
Opening hours:
- From July 15 to September 15 – from 18:00 to 21:00, closed on Mondays.
All other months:
Free admission.
Address: Mataro, Carrer Cooperativa 47.
How to get there:
- by train from Barcelona Stants station to Mataro station;
- by bus from stop Pl Tetuan to Rda. Alfons XII – Camí Ral (stops 3 minutes walk to the Workers' Cooperative);
- by car - drive along the coast to the north, the journey will take no more than half an hour.
House of Vicens
(Spanish and Catalan names are identical: Casa Vicens)
The Vicens House is the fateful brainchild of the great architect. Thanks to his bold design, Antonio was noticed by his future patron, philanthropist Eusebio Güell In 1883-1885, Gaudí designed a building that largely determined his fate. Manufacturer Manuel Vicens orders a summer residence project for his family from an architect who has just received his diploma. A young artist decides to build a building from rough stone and colorful ceramic tiles.
The building itself is an almost perfect quadrangle, but the simplicity of the form was transformed with the help of decorative elements. Facing the east, he decorates the building in the Mudejar style. Here he is helped by both colored tiles (which the customer of the house specializes in) and the bold decision to lay them out in a checkerboard pattern.
Interior of the Vicens house inside Attention to the smallest details and the desire to maintain one’s work in a single style were already defined as distinguishing feature Antonio Gaudi.
In 2005, the building was added to the List World Heritage UNESCO.
It was after the construction of the House of Vicens that Antonio Gaudi was noticed by the philanthropist Eusebio Güell, who later became the main customer and patron young architect.
Private building, closed to the public until 2017. The house will open for tours in October 2017.
Address: Carrer de les Carolines, 22-24.
How to get there: by metro to Fontana station (L3).
El Capriccio
(Spanish and Catalan names are identical: Capricho de Gaudí)
The summer mansion of the Marquis Masimo Diaz de Quixano, created by an architectural genius, still amazes with its originality and uniqueness The Catalan genius is building the next structure by order of the Marquis Masimo Diaz de Quixano, who was distantly related to the architect’s friend Guell. The quaint summer mansion was created in 1883-1885 in the town of Comillas and is still one of its main attractions. The building is now open to the public.
Opening hours: 10:30-17:30, with an hour break from 14:00 to 15:00.
Ticket price – 5 €.
Address: Comillas, Barrio Sobrellano.
How to get there: From Barcelona, the fastest way is to fly to the city of Santander (SDR airport) and from there by bus to the city of Comillas (the Comilias stop is a five-minute walk from El Capriccio).
Pavilion of the Güell Manor – Pabellones Güell
(Catalan name -Pavellons Gü ell)
The beautiful and unique design pavilion of the Güell estate is another work of Gaudí The first order Gaudí received directly from Güell was a project for a complex of two pavilions and a gate, which were supposed to be the main entrance to country estate tycoon. Initially, the complex also included a gatekeeper's house and stables, but they did not survive to this day.
The pavilion is located in Barcelona, near the Palau Reial metro station on line L3, and you can visit it by purchasing a ticket for 6 €.
Address: 7, Av. Pedralbes.
How to get there: by metro to Palau Reial station (L3).
Sagrada Familia – Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia
(Catalan Name– Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia)
The beginning of the construction of the most famous long-term construction is considered to be March 19, 1882. It was then that the first stone was laid in the foundation of the Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family. The basilica began to be built under the leadership of the then famous Spanish architect Francisco del Villar. A year later, he left the project due to disagreements with the church council, and the young Gaudí was entrusted with continuing construction.
Antonio Gaudi devoted 42 years of his life to the construction of the Sagrada Familia, tirelessly improving the project, adding new details and gradually modifying the plan. The artist filled each new column, statue or part of the bas-relief with symbolism and sacred meaning, being true Christian.
Its fundamental innovation was 18 pointed towers, each of which had special meaning. The central and highest among them (still unfinished) is dedicated to Christ.
Nativity facade The three facades of the building also carry a sacred meaning, which is expressed by sculptures and images on it. The main façade is dedicated to the Nativity, the other two are dedicated to the Passion of Christ and the Resurrection. According to the Spanish government, the construction of the temple will be completed approximately in 2026 (which is not certain), but now you should definitely visit the Sagrada Familia by Antoni Gaudi when you are in the capital of Catalonia. The building is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can learn more about Gaudi’s brilliant creation in a separate article at the link.
The Expiatory Temple of the Sagrada Familia is a unique creation of the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. The temple has become a symbol not only of Barcelona, but of Spain as a whole. Opening hours:
- November-February – 9:00-18:00;
- March and October – 9:00-19:00;
- from April to September – 9:00-20:00.
Ticket price – from 15 €.
Address: Carrer de Mallorca, 401.
How to get there: to Sagrada Familia metro station (L2 and L5).
Palace Güell – Palacio Güell
( Catalan name -Palau Gü ell)
Palace Güell not only attracts the attention of numerous tourists, but is also duly recognized by UNESCO The residential building, built by a Catalan master commissioned by Güell's friend and patron, became his only building in the Old Town of Barcelona. Antoni Gaudi took five years to build Palace Güell, and it was during this time that his personal style, which became recognizable throughout the world, was formed. A non-standard approach to decorating the facade, an appeal to Byzantine motifs and the statics of Venetian palazzos - each line of the building loudly declares its creator.
The interiors of the palace are also worth a look: fancy fireplaces, wooden ceilings, bright stained glass windows and huge mirrors are definitely worth your time. Palace Güell is another building by Antoni Gaudi, included in the UNESCO list.
Opening hours:
- from April 1 to September 30 – 10:00-20:00;
- From October 1 to March 31 – 10:00-17:30;
- Mon and Sun are days off.
Free admission.
Address: Carrer Nou de la Rambla.
How to get there: by metro to Drassanes station (L3).
College of Saint Teresa – Colegio Teresiano de Barcelona
(Catalan Name – Col legi de les Teresianes)
In 1888, Antoni Gaudí began to continue the construction of the College of St. Teresa. It is still unknown which of the architects of that time started this project and why he did not continue it.
Working on the building turned out to be difficult for the architect, because he constantly had to coordinate his ideas with the customer and work with rather “boring” material, trying not to dilute it with decorative elements. Constantly arguing with Ossie's father, who supervised the construction, the architect found justification for his decisions in biblical symbolism.
College of Saint Teresa is another popular attraction in Barcelona Thanks to Gaudi’s persistence and his categorical reluctance to adhere to absolute asceticism, the college building turned out to be restrained, but not without recognizable author’s features. The shape of the building was complicated, decorative arches were placed along the perimeter of the roof, and the facade was decorated with unique elements.
You can get inside the school during excursions, which are held on weekends from 15:00 to 20:00.
Address: Carrer de Ganduxer, 85.
How to get there: by bus 14, 16, 70, 72, 74 to the Tres Torres stop.
Bishop's Palace in Astrog
(isp. Palacio Episcopal de Astorga,cat. Palau Episcopal d'Astorga)
Bishop of Astroga (province of Leon) Jean Batista Grau y Vallespinosa was good sign not only with the work of Antoni Gaudi, but also with the architect himself personally. It is no wonder that it was him who the priest ordered the design of his new residence. Focusing on the Gothic style characteristic of Leon, Gaudi created a small castle with narrow windows, towers and pointed roofs.
Bishop's Palace in Astrog The building's unique porch and entrance portico with recessed arches are the architect's find. In order to create the impression of “extension” and unreality, dilute the usual Gothic style, the master decided to use solid elongated stone blocks in the installation.
At the moment, the palace is open to visitors, the ticket price is 2.5 €.
Address: Plaza de Eduardo Castro, Astroga.
How to get there: The easiest way to get from Barcelona is by train to Astroga station (the Palace is a 10-minute walk from the station).
House Botines
(Spanish: Casa Botines, cat.. Casa de los Botines)
Not far from Astroga, in Leon, there is another attraction associated with the name of the Catalan master. The rich people of Leone, having seen the new residence of Bishop Astroga, decided that their new apartment building should be built by the same architect. The main customer was one of them, Joan Botines, founder of the commercial union.
The house, like the Jean Baptiste Palace, was designed with an eye to local color. Turning again to the Gothic style, Gaudi erects a rather restrained building with a small number of decorative elements.
House Botines - the legendary creation of Gaudí outside Catalonia Address: Leon, Plaza del Obispo Marcelo, 5.
How to get there:
- by train to Ponferrada station;
- by bus (from the station) to the Ponferrada stop (a five-minute walk from Casa Botines).
Güell Wine Cellar
(Spanish)Bodegas Guell,cat. Celler Guell)
The Güell Wine Cellar is one of the most original wine cellars in the world In the suburbs of Barcelona there is another Gaudí building, commissioned by Eusebio Güell. The master worked on it in 1895-1898. The single complex included a wine cellar, a residential building and a gatekeeper's house. They all have one thing in common recognizable style, as well as the general idea of building roofs - they resemble either tents or oriental pagodas, attracting all attention to themselves.
Entrance to the complex costs 9 €.
Address: El Celler Güell, Sitges.
How to get there: By train to Garaff station.
House Calvet
(Spanish and Catalan names are identical: Casa Calvet)
In 1898-1890, Gaudí was busy building an apartment building on Casp Street (Carrer de Casp) in Barcelona, commissioned by the widow of a city rich man, which later became a private residential building. In the style of the building, the maestro adhered to the neo-baroque style, abandoning medieval motifs. It was this creation of the architect that received the Barcelona Municipal Prize for the best building of the year in 1900.
The building can only be viewed from the outside. 
Address: Carrer de Casp 48.
How to get there: by metro to Urquinaona station (L1, L4).
Colony Güell Crypt
(Spanish and Catalan names are identical:Cripta de la Colò nia Gü ell)
Gaudi began building another church in the suburbs of Barcelona in 1898 as part of a project to build a colony - a small complex provided with everything necessary for the life of a micro-society.
The Crypt of Colonia Güell is one of the most original buildings in Catalonia Due to the protracted construction process, the architect was able to build only the crypt, and all other parts of the project remained unfulfilled.
The building is lined with multi-colored glass, and its windows are decorated with needles from the looms of the Guell factory. The building is decorated with bright stained glass windows dedicated to church motifs.
The crypt is open from 10:00 to 19:00, tickets cost from 7 €. The attraction is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. 
Address: Colonia Guell S.A., Santa Coloma de Cervello.
How to get there: Take buses N41 and N51 to the Santa Coloma de Cervello stop.
House Figueres
(Spanish and Catalan names are identical: Casa Figueras)
One of the most recognizable houses of Antoni Gaudi is located on Bellesguard Street and is often named after it. The architect worked for three years only on the design of the house, which was commissioned by the widow of a wealthy merchant Maria Sages in 1900, and its construction continued until 1916.
Forming the style of the building, Gaudi returns to oriental motifs and combines it with neo-Gothic. As a result, he gets a very light structure, soaring into the sky, decorated with intricate stone mosaics and elegant broken lines.
Casa Figueres is open to the public from 10:00 to 19:00 in summer and until 16:00 in winter. Ticket costs from 7 €.
Address: Carrer de Bellesguard, 16.
How to get there: by metro to Vallcarca station (L3).
Park Guell
(Spanish: Parque Güell, cat. Parc Güell)
A huge park with an area of 17.18 hectares, Parque Gaudi Barcelona was built in the upper part of Barcelona in the years 1900-1914. Together with the customer Güell, they conceived a recreational space, a “garden city,” that was fashionable at that time among the British. The designated area for the park was divided into 62 plots for the construction of mansions. It was never possible to sell them to wealthy Catalans, so they began to develop the territory as an ordinary park, and then sold it local authorities.
Nowadays the house-museum of Antoni Gaudi is located here (his mansion was one of three purchased in the park). Besides it, there is a lot to see in the park: the famous mosaic sculptures, the Hall of a Hundred Columns and, of course, the curved bench and the famous Gaudi tiles with which it is lined.
A ticket for an adult visitor costs from 22.5 €.
Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 43.
How to get there: by metro to Passeig de Gràcia station (L3).
House Mila
(Spanish and Catalan names are identical: Casa Milà)
The famous Casa Mila has long become almost the same symbol of Barcelona as the Sagrada Familia. This is the last “secular” work of the architect. After its completion, he finally plunged into the construction of the Church of the Holy Family, sometimes mistakenly called the CATHEDRAL. Gaudi, again, gravitating towards smooth and curved lines, creates an amazing and memorable facade.
Casa Mila is one of the symbols of Barcelona By the way, the residents of Barcelona did not like it right away, and for its heavy appearance the building was nicknamed the Quarry. However, this did not prevent Casa Mila from becoming the first building of the 20th century to be included in the UNESCO List.
The fact is that Gaudi, acting in accordance with his principles, thought through the smallest details, not only decorative, but also functional. In Casa Mila, Antoni Gaudí thought out the ventilation in the rooms in such a way that to this day it does not require air conditioning. And the owners can move the interior partitions in each apartment at their discretion.
And, of course, the main innovation of that time was the underground parking, also designed by the famous architect.
Interior inside Casa Mila Casa Mila has been on the World Heritage List since 2005.
Address: Provença, 261-265.
How to get there: by metro to Diagonal station (L3, L5). Buy skip-the-line tickets to Casa Mila with an audio guide.
Sagrada Familia School
(Spanish: Escuelas de la Sagrada Familia, cat. Escoles de la Sagrada Familia)
Built as part of the Sagrada Familia complex, the school amazes with its simplicity and elegance at the same time. This is probably one of the most inconspicuous attractions of Antoni Gaudi at first glance. Its design amazingly harmoniously combines beauty and functionality.
Thus, a fancy roof not only serves as decoration, but also drains rainwater without leaving a trace. In addition, the building fully complies with church requirements.
The Sagrada Familia school can claim to be the most original in the world in its design A few years after the construction of the school was completed, Gaudi himself moved here to live in order to be as close as possible to the main work of his life - the Cathedral of the Sagrada Familia.
Address: Carrer de Mallorca, 401.
How to get there: by metro to Sagrada Familia station (L2 and L5).
Antoni Gaudí is a Catalan architect known for his whimsical and fantastical buildings, most of which are located in Barcelona, Spain. His work belongs to the Art Nouveau style, but he used elements very different styles and created a completely new architecture.
During his life he created more than 20 architectural masterpieces. Many of them are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, but all of them, without exception, are popular tourist destinations.
Gaudi had a phenomenal mind. He almost never worked with drawings; he did all the calculations in his head, and his main tools were imagination and intuition. Gaudi's gift was amazing ability draw a building in your imagination and then embody it in stone.
For the birthday of Antonio Gaudi, Lifeguide I have prepared for you 7 of the most famous works of this brilliant architect:
1. House of Vicens (1883-1885)
This house in Barcelona was Gaudí's first independent construction. Casa Vicens is a motley mixture of different architectural styles, the most striking and recognizable of which is the Moorish “Mudeja” style. Structural forms and ornamental solutions reflected Gaudí's taste for oriental art, primarily Moorish, Persian and Byzantine.
2. Park Guell (1900-1914)
Fairytale houses, a bench in the shape of a snake, fountains, sculptures - this is all the famous Park Güell. Covering an area of 17.18 hectares, the park is located in the upper part of Barcelona and is a combination of gardens and residential areas. Park Güell was conceived as a green residential area in the style of the garden city urban planning concept that was fashionable in England at that time.
3. Casa Batllo (1904 - 1906)
Casa Batllo, or as it is also called the House of Bones, was built back in 1877. And if it weren’t for Antonio Gaudi, who was given the order to reconstruct the building, it would have remained an ordinary house. The most remarkable feature of Casa Batllo is the almost complete absence of straight lines in its design. The wavy outlines appear both in the decorative details of the facade, carved from hewn stone, and in the interior design.
All decorative elements of the house are completed the best masters applied arts. The forged elements were created by the Badia brothers, the stained glass windows were created by glassblower Josep Pelegri, the tiles were created by P. Pujol i Bausis son, and other ceramic parts were made by Sebastian i Ribot.
4. House Mila (1906-1910)
The design of this Gaudi building was innovative for its time: a well-thought-out natural ventilation system makes it possible to avoid air conditioning, interior partitions in each of the apartments of the house can be moved at your discretion, and there is an underground garage. Three courtyards (one circular and two elliptical) are characteristic design elements that the architect constantly turned to in order to fill the spaces in his buildings with enough light and fresh air.
5. El Capriccio (1983-1885)
Rubén Hoya
El Capriccio is a summer mansion on the Cantabrian coast in the town of Comillas near Santander, Spain. This quaint little palace, built in the Art Nouveau style, belongs to early period creativity of Gaudi. Multi-colored paints were chosen for the exterior decoration of the building. The base was decorated with rustic yellowish-gray stone; the façade was lined with strips of colored bricks alternating with bright majolica tiles. Relief majolica depicted graceful flowers and sunflower leaves.
6. Palace Güell (1885 - 1890)
aussiewig
Palace Güell is a city residential building in Barcelona, built by order of an admirer of Gaudi’s talent, the Catalan industrialist Eusebi Güell. In this building, the Catalan architect combined the traditional rectangular structure and coffered ceilings of medieval palaces with innovations such as the parabolic arch, also characteristic of further creativity Gaudi. The palace has four main floors, plus a basement (ground floor) and a flat roof with a terrace.
7. Sagrada Familia or Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family (1882 - present time)
This is the most famous long-term construction in Spain - the temple has been under construction for more than 130 years! In accordance with Gaudi's project, the structure was to be crowned with many monumental towers soaring upward, and all elements of the scenery were to receive deep symbolic meaning, associated with the Gospel or church rituals. Realizing that work on the temple would not be completed during his lifetime, Gaudí also planned many of the interior details.
According to the data, construction of the temple is planned to be completed in 2026.
In this video you can still take a look at what this impressive design should look like in the end: