The city where Gaudi was born. Saint Antonio Gaudí - brilliant architect from Barcelona
While studying at school, Gaudí showed his artistic talent. He paints the backstage of the school theater. And in 1867, in the school weekly El Harlequin, which was published with a circulation of only 12 copies, several drawings of a genius were published. In 1968, the architect graduated from school.
From 1869 to 1874, Gaudi moved to Barcelona and took architectural preparatory courses at the University of Barcelona at the Faculty of Natural Sciences.
Learning and becoming
In 1870, the restoration of the Poblet Monastery, which Gaudí dreamed of, was planned. The architect designed for the abbot a sketch of the coat of arms.
In 1873, Gaudí entered the Provincial School of Architecture in Barcelona. In 1876, the older brother and mother of the architect died. By the time he graduated from the school of architecture in 1877, a huge number of sketches and projects had been created: a pier for ships, the Central Hospital of Barcelona, the gate of the cemetery.
Until 1882, while Gaudí worked as a draftsman under Francisco Villar and Emilio Sala, he studied crafts, created furniture for his own home and did other small work. During this time, participation in competitions did not bring results.
In 1878, Gaudí was finally noticed, and he received the first public commission - a street lamp in Barcelona. Already in 1879 the project was implemented.
Gaudi pays attention to the study of old architectural monuments in the vicinity of Barcelona. The architect attends tours with the Catalan "Center for Tourists", members of the Catalan Association of Architects. At this time, the first major order for the construction of a mansion was received from Manuel Vicens y Montaner.
In 1879, Gaudi's sister, Rosita Gaudi de Egea, dies, leaving behind a daughter. The architect takes his niece to Barcelona. He himself was never married, and, according to contemporaries, due to an unsuccessful personal life in his old age, he became a misogynist. The master had no children.
Recognition and most significant buildings
In 1881, the only journalistic work of Gaudí was published in the newspaper La Renaixenca, it is dedicated to an exhibition of applied art. The project "Obrera Mataronense" - a workers' settlement - has been completed and is being printed at the Hepus printing house.
At the end of the 19th century, the Neo-Gothic style flourished in Europe, and the architect was delighted with new ideas. The handwriting was strongly influenced by the work of Viollet-le-Duc, who restored Notre-Dame de Paris, and the English art historian John Ruskin.
With no less interest, Gaudí studied the architecture of Barcelona, especially the neo-Gothic works of Joan Martorel. In 1882, they met, the genius has long been under the influence of the famous Spaniard. It was under the patronage of Martorel that Antonio Gaudí was approved in 1883 (November 3) as the architect of the Sagrada Familia (Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família), after the departure of Francisco del Villar. In parallel with this, the first project for Guell is being developed - the Hunting Pavilion near Sitges (Sitges).
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In 1884-1887, Gaudí designed and implemented the horse yard and the entrance gate to Les Corts - Güell's estate. The order is really important and the results only confirm the desire of the industrialist to cooperate.
Convinced of Gaudi's talent, in 1886 Güell ordered him to build the Palace in Barcelona. It is the Palau Güell that brings the master fame among the bourgeoisie. He transforms from an ordinary builder into a fashionable architect who has become a symbol of "unaffordable luxury". Playing with space behaving like living matter impressed the customer. During the construction period, Gaudi traveled through Andalusia, and then Morocco, in the retinue of the Margrave of Comillas. Work on the Palau Güell was completed in 1889.
From 1887 to 1893, the master was involved in the construction of the Neo-Gothic Bishop's Palace in the city of Astorg in Castile. But the building remained unfinished until 1915, as the architect, due to disagreements with the chapter in 1893, refused to lead the project.
In parallel, in 1888-1889, Gaudí worked with the Gothic-serf project of the monastery school of St. Theresa in Barcelona. Approximately in the same period from 1891 to 1892, the House of Botines in Leon was built under his leadership.
Making time between visits to the construction site, the architect manages to visit Tangier and Malaga to get acquainted with the site, which was to be built for the Franciscan Mission. But the project remained unfulfilled.
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Contemporaries note that Gaudí was a zealous Catholic and strictly observed fasting. It was this reason, against the background of poor health, that caused a serious deterioration in the general condition. The recovery process was difficult and greatly influenced the inner world of the architect.
From 1895 to 1901, Gaudi erected many buildings for Eusebio Güell. For a long time his involvement in the outbuildings and wine cellars in Garraf remained unknown. It was believed that only his friend Francesc Berenguer y Mestres worked on them.
In 1898, Gaudi creates a project for the church of the Colonia Güell, but only the stair complex and the Crypt are erected. The building stood unfinished for a long time, and was completed only in 1917. At the same time, in 1898, the Pseudo-Baroque Casa Calvet was built in Barcelona for the industrialist Pere Martir Calvet y Carbonel. The house was completed in 1900 and received the municipal award as the best building of the year. This award was the only one during the life of Gaudi.
1900 was a significant year for the architect, and he designs a sculptural ensemble for the Catalan shrine - Montserrat Monastery. The hand of the master is visible in the design of the altar chapel.
All in the same 1900, an order was received from Maria Sages for the construction of a country house on the site of the royal residence of Marty I. An unusual solution was chosen for the project - a medieval castle. Since the construction was carried out on the Mediterranean coast and on top of a hill, the house was called "Bellesguard", which translates as "beautiful view". The work was completed in 1909. At first glance, the building seems to be very simple, but in fact, Gaudí combined the surrounding landscape and a dead structure in it. The mixture of Mudéjar and Neo-Gothic echoes the House of Vicens and El Capriccio.
The year 1900 was truly eventful. Guell ordered Gaudi to create a huge park in Gracia, which at that time was a suburb of Barcelona. As conceived by the industrialist, it was supposed to be an English park, an outlet from industrialization, and at the same time a spontaneous romantic garden. The architect himself and his niece later settled on one of the plots. The grandiose work on Park Güell was completed in 1914, along with the design of the territory at the main entrance, alleys and a large terrace. However, Güell's ambitious plan to build a new green residential area failed to materialize.
Gaudí worked simultaneously on several projects at once. So, in 1901, an order was received from the manufacturer Miralles for the design of the walls of the estate and the entrance gate. From 1903 to 1914, the architect led the reconstruction of the cathedral in Palma de Mallorca, creating an interior for it.
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As mentioned earlier, in 1906 the architect moved to one of the houses of Parc Güell, but not because of vanity, the master was very modest, but because of his father's illness. Yet on October 29, 1906, Gaudí's father dies.
From 1906 to 1910, work was underway on the Casa Milà, another unusual project. The architect wanted to build a house similar to a living being, in which the space would not be static, but would develop and be reborn. Gaudi's idea was quite successful, although it was perceived with hostility by his contemporaries.
The fame of the Catalan architect went far beyond the borders of the country. In 1908, an order was received from New York for the construction of a hotel. But the work ended at the stage of drawing sketches, offering a bold and extraordinary solution. In parallel, Gaudi was designing a chapel at the School of St. Theresa, but the leadership of the educational institution rejected the project. Also in 1908, the construction of the Crypt of Colonia Güell, in Santa Coloma, was resumed.
All this time, since 1882, the construction of the Sagrada Familia has been going on. In 1909, the master decides to create a temporary school for the children of the parishioners of the temple. A feature of the structure was the abundance of curvilinear forms and the absence of partitions.
In 1910, under the auspices of the National Society of Fine Arts, the only major lifetime exhibition in Paris was held, which presented a variety of Gaudi's projects.
In 1912, the niece of the architect, Rosa Egea y Gaudí, died in poor health, she was 36 years old. In 1914, a close friend and colleague, Francesc Berenguer y Mestres, died. After a break, the construction of the Sagrada Familia was resumed.
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The symbol of Barcelona is the Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family, the Sagrada Familia (Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia) - the most famous brainchild (Antonio Gaudi) and at the same time,. Now the temple is still not completed, and digital artists compete in skill, creating different versions of the 3D visualization of the future building - one more spectacular than the other! The first architect who undertook the construction of this temple was Francisco del Villar, and not, as many believe. Interestingly, the construction of the temple was carried out only at the expense of donations from the townspeople.
Gaudí devoted 42 years of his life to the creation of the temple. According to his idea, the church should have 18 towers. The highest (170 meters), located in the center of the ensemble, is designed to personify Christ. The drawings left after Gaudi were burned by the Francoists in 1936 - another fact that slows down the construction process. In 2010, the unfinished temple was consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI and officially opened for worship. According to the latest data, the Spanish government expects to complete construction by 2026.
About personal
Architect Antonio Gaudí (1852-1926)In his youth, a dandy, a lover of kid gloves and black silk cylinders, Gaudi was very popular with women, while remaining a bachelor all his life. There are few details: it seems that in the 1880s, while still a rather young architect, he showed signs of attention to a certain Josepha Moreu (nicknamed Pepeta), who worked as a teacher in a workers' cooperative of weavers. But she did not reciprocate the lover. There is another story that tells how a young stranger, who was seriously infatuated with Gaudi, at the last moment refused him courtship and went to a monastery, which prompted the architect to abandon the idea of marriage forever.
About hometown
Reus is the hometown of Antoni Gaudí.
Antonio Gaudi was not born in Barcelona, but in the town of Reus, which is an hour's drive from the Catalan capital. His father Francisco Gaudí y Serra was a boilermaker. Antonio was the fifth and youngest child in the family. From childhood memories, it is known that the architect suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, so outdoor games with peers were practically inaccessible to him. Gaudi spent a lot of time on the farm, walked a lot alone, watched nature. Gaudí moved to Barcelona at the age of 16. He entered the Higher School of Architecture, which later became a department of the University of Barcelona.
About my favorite client
Park Guell in Barcelona.Perhaps the most fateful in the career of an architect was the meeting with Eusebio Guell (Eusebio Güell). The textile magnate, the richest man in Catalonia, becomes his close friend and customer. It was by order of this family that the architect creates projects for the pavilions of the estate in Pedralbes, the wine cellars in Garraf, the chapel and crypt of the Colonia Guell (Santa Coloma de Cervelho), Park Guell in Barcelona.
To date, there are amusing testimonies, including contractors, describing some of the details of the construction. For example, from the history of Park Güell it is known how the famous snake-shaped mosaic bench appeared. To get the right shape, Gaudi asked the workers to take turns sitting on fresh cement, almost taking off their pants! Thus, he expected to get a seat that is ideal in all respects.
Bench in Park Güell.About the ill-fated tram
The ill-fated Barcelona tramIt is known that Gaudi almost did not use any transport, always moved on foot, until the last day making many kilometers of walks to the sea. One day, 73-year-old Gaudi left the house to the church of Sant Felip Neri, of which he was a parishioner - this was his usual route. Passing along the Gran Via de las Cortes Catalanes between Girona and Bailen streets, he was hit by a tram and lost consciousness. They say that the movement of trams in Barcelona was launched on this very day. The law enforcement officers did not recognize the famous architect in the victim and took him to the hospital for the poor, where he died on June 10.
about casa vicens
The first house built by Gaudí in Barcelona is Casa Vicens.
And for those who are planning a trip to Spain in the near future, it will be interesting to know that the first house built by Gaudí in Barcelona, Casa Vicens, has recently been opened to the public. The architect designed it by order of the broker Manel Visan Montaner in 1883, the construction was completed by 1885. Recently, a large-scale restoration was carried out in it, which was supervised by a whole galaxy of architects (Jose Antonio, Martinez Lapeña, Elias Torres, David Garcia).
SAINT GAUDI?
Of the fun facts, one cannot keep silent about the campaign that has been going on for about ten years in support of Gaudí's canonization. It was expected that in 2015 the Pope would sign the instrument of beatification. Will Antoni Gaudí become the patron saint of all architects? The question remains open.
The unusual architecture of Antonio Gaudí is the decoration of Barcelona. In the capital of Catalonia, 14 buildings of the master of modernism have been preserved: Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, houses, small architectural forms. All the masterpieces of Gaudí in Barcelona with a map and description. Addresses, opening hours, ticket prices, what to watch for free and how to avoid standing in lines.
Before you go to see Gaudí's creations, plan your time and calculate your budget. The sights of Barcelona are among the most popular and expensive in Europe. You can spend 2 hours waiting in line at the Sagrada Familia, and a ticket to Casa Batlló costs €23.50.
What to do? Choose only the most interesting places with paid entrance and book tickets online. In many cases, you can limit yourself to an external examination or visit a free part.
Barcelona transport and discount cards
Casa Batlló
A feature of the Casa Batlló is the almost complete absence of straight lines. The facade of the building depicts the shining 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
House Mila (Casa Milà, La Pedrera)
The last secular work of Gaudi, an example of Catalan modernism. The panoramic rooftop terrace is decorated with sculptures of mythological creatures that perform the practical function of ventilation.
- 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
- Mila's house at night - night tour, projections in the rooms, audiovisual show on the roof of the terrace, a glass of champagne.
- 20% discount with Barcelona City Pass
Online tickets without queues
House Vicens (Casa Vicens)
Built in Mudéjar style with ceramic finishes 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, 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 world-famous Catalan architect Antonio Gaudí (1852-1926) managed to create 18 masterpieces, which for many decades have been considered the pinnacle of an innovative and unique style. Until now, some people consider his fantastic constructions to be brilliant, while others just think they are crazy. The main part of these works is located in the native master of 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 current at all. He lived and worked according to the rules understandable only to him, adhering to incomprehensible laws, therefore it is better to classify all the work of the master as “Gaudi style”.
With several of his masterpieces, which are rightfully considered the pinnacle of architectural art, we will get acquainted today. In fairness, it should be noted that out of 18 of his projects, seven were included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites!
1. House of Vicens (1883-1885), the first project of Antonio Gaudí
Residence Vicens (Casa Vicens), the first independent creation of the architect, was commissioned by the wealthy industrialist Manuel Vicens (Manuel Vicens). The house is still the main decoration of Carrer de les Carolines Street, being considered the brightest and most unusual landmark of Barcelona, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
This house was built in Art Nouveau style and is a four-level architectural ensemble in which even the smallest details play an important role.
Since Gaudi was an adherent of natural motifs and drew a source of inspiration from them, each element of this unusual house was a reflection of his preferences.
Floral motifs are present everywhere, from the wrought-iron fencing, as well as the facade itself, to the interior. The most favorite image of the creator was yellow marigolds and palm leaves.
The structure of the Vicens house itself, including the elements of its decoration, speaks of the influence of oriental architecture. The decor of the entire unusual complex is made in the Moorish Mudéjar style. It is clearly manifested in the design of the Muslim turrets on the roof and in some details of the luxurious interior decoration.
2. Pavilions and Guell's estate (Pavellons Guell)
For Count Eusebi Guell, 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 Guell pavilions (1885-1886).
Fulfilling the order of the count, the extraordinary architect not only carried out a complete reconstruction of the summer country estate with the beautification of the park and the creation of stables and a closed arena, but combined all these ordinary buildings so that they turned into a fabulous complex.
When creating these pavilions, Antonio was the first to apply a special technology - trencadis, which consists in the fact that pieces of ceramics or glass of irregular shape are used when facing the facade. By lining 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 main desire of the owner to impress the elite of the city 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. In the style of which centuries-old traditions, innovative techniques and ideas were mixed, which he applied with the same success in subsequent complexes.
The main highlight of this architecturally interesting palace is the chimneys, which look like bright outlandish sculptures. Such splendor is achieved thanks to the facing with fragments of ceramics and natural stone.
The pediments and the rooftop terrace, which is designed for impressive walks, delight visitors with incredible views of the city and the "magic garden", created and amazing stove tubes.
4. Park Guell
The unusual Park Güell project (1903-1910) was conceived in an effort to create a garden city, as a counterweight to the country's growing industrialization and protection from its terrible consequences.
A 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 Gaudí 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 building was the 100 Columns Hall, which is reached by a special staircase, and on the roof there is a stunningly bright bench that completely envelops the contours of the complex.
This garden city still pleases its visitors with its unusual architecture and decoration; it is also included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
5. Casa Batllo
Casa Batlló (1904-1906) resembles an ominous dragon figure, which is lined with mosaic scales and is able to change its color depending on the time of day. As soon as it is not called - "house of bones", "house-dragon", "yawning house".
And really, looking at its strange balconies, window bars, gables and a roof resembling a dragon's back will get rid of the impression that these are the remains of a huge monster!
Creating a fantastic patio, for the improvement and uniformity of illumination, he achieved a play of chiaroscuro, laying ceramic tiles in a special way - gradually turning from white to light blue and blue.
According to tradition, he decorated the roof of the house with his outlandish chimney towers.
6. House Mila - Pedrera (Casa Mila)
This is the last residential building that the great architect created. It is better known as "La Pedrera", which means "stone quarry" in translation. It is considered the most incredible residential building project not only in all of Barcelona, but in the world.
Initially, this creation of the master was not accepted and considered it to be complete madness. Incredibly, Antonio and the owner of this building were even fined for non-compliance with existing urban planning standards.
Over time, they got used to it and even began to consider it a brilliant creation, because during construction, without any calculations and projects, the architect managed to introduce technologies that were several decades ahead of their time.
Only a hundred years later, such technology was developed by design institutes and began to be actively used in ultra-modern construction.
7. Sagrada Familia (Temple Expiatori De La Sagrada Familia)
The brilliant architect devoted the last forty years of his life to bringing to life his most unrealistic fantasy - enclosing the characters of parables and the main commandments of the New Testament in stone.
Its design is dominated by surreal gothic, the walls are decorated with images of saints and all kinds of creatures of God, from turtles, salamanders, snails and ending with the forest, the starry sky and the entire universe.
The highest columns and unusual paintings adorn the interior of the temple (Temple Expiatori De La Sagrada Familia).
However, the construction of such a large-scale cathedral continues to this day. 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 the NASA program, which calculates the trajectory of space projects, was able to cope with this task!
Thanks to extraordinary architects, unique buildings are being created in our time, which can also be considered pretentious forms.
Many tourists travel to Barcelona to admire the architectural masterpieces of Antoni Gaudí. But you don't have to fly to the Catalan capital. All his legacy...
The personality of Antonio Gaudi is enigmatic and mysterious. The second person who, in my opinion, has a similar aura is not even a real person, but a character in the novel by Francis Scott Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby. And with what ease the hero of the novel enchanted his audience with soirees, with the same ease Gaudí's works capture our heart, soul and memory.
What is his genius?
Perhaps the answer lies on the surface. He is around us. Gaudi deified nature and drew inspiration from it. He was the first to decide to transfer the laws of nature to architecture.
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Its church spiers top with sheaves of cereals and ears of corn, the arches of the windows are crowned with baskets of fruit, and bunches of grapes hang from the façades; drainpipes meander in the form of snakes and reptiles; chimneys are twisted with snails, and fence grates are forged in the form of palm leaves.
Everything ingenious is simple!
During his life, Antonio Gaudí created more than 20 architectural masterpieces, 10 of which are located directly in Barcelona.
I invite you to take a fascinating walk through the streets of Barcelona and get acquainted with the masterpieces of Gaudí's architecture, which have no analogues to this day.
And you can stay in Barcelona in these hotels:
1. House Vicens (Casa Vicens)
The House of Vicens was Gaudí's first significant work. It was built between 1883 and 1888 by order of the owner of the ceramic tile factory, Manuel Vicens Muntaner.
For the first time inspecting the site of a future construction site, Gaudi discovered a giant flowering palm tree surrounded by a carpet of yellow flowers - marigolds. All these motifs Gaudi later included in the design of the house: palm leaves found their place on the fence, and marigolds became the pattern of ceramic tiles.
Gaudí developed the design of the entire building, starting with the meticulous finishing of the exterior, and ending with the decorative solutions of the interior, up to the painting of the walls and stained-glass windows.
Since the house is a private property, it is closed to the public. However, one day a year, May 22, the owners of the house open its doors to guests.
2. Pavilions of the Guell estate (Pavellons Güell)
It was on this project that two great men met who for many years to come determined the image of Barcelona: the architect Antonio Gaudí and Count Eusebi Güell. By order of Güell, Antonio had to reconstruct the patron's summer country residence: remake the park and erect a gate with a fence, build new pavilions and design stables with an indoor arena. And in order to show a single idea for the entire project, the architect made all the buildings in the same style, using the same building material and a pattern resembling dragon scales.
It was during the construction of the Guell pavilions that Gaudi first used the trencadis technique - facing the surface with irregularly shaped pieces of ceramic or glass. Later, we will meet this technology in the design of benches in the Park Güell and many other works of the architect.
Unfortunately, today only the entrance group with a gate decorated with a dragon has survived from the building. As conceived by Gaudi, the dragon guarded the garden with golden apples, giving eternal youth and immortality.
When the gate was opened, the head and paws of the dragon moved, frightening and surprising guests and passers-by. Today, you can approach the Dragon without fear - it will remain motionless and freely let you into the estate.
3. Palau Güell
The next large-scale project created by Antonio Gaudi for Güell is a residential building, or rather, a palace. This magnificent Venetian "palazzo" is squeezed into a small space of 22 by 18 meters.
It is impossible to fully appreciate the appearance of the entire Palau Güell from any point, because Carrer Nou de la Rambla is very densely built up. To surprise viewers who are at a great distance from the building, Gaudí designed unusual chimney towers.
Gaudi believed that one single architectural element cannot be a worthy decoration of the roof. Therefore, in the castle, the roof is designed according to the "scenographic" principle. Each chimney is made in the form of a whimsical turret, turning the roof into a magical garden. Gaudi uses this favorite technique in many of his future projects.
At the entrance, between the two forged gates of the palace, Gaudí placed the coat of arms of Catalonia, and engraved the initials of Euzebi Güell - "E" and "G" on the gates themselves.
4. College of the Order of Saint Teresa (Collegi de las Teresianes)
"Collegi de las Teresianes" - a school at the monastery of St. Teresa - also became one of the architectural masterpieces of Antoni Gaudí. The college building was built between 1888 and 1890 by order of Enric d'Usso, the priest who founded the Theresian Order.
Initially, the development of the plan was entrusted to the architect Juan B. Ponsom. He worked on the project for a whole year, and even managed to build the building up to the second floor, when the construction was entrusted to Gaudi. The young brilliant architect managed to make significant changes to the initial design and complete the construction in less than a year.
For Gaudi, this was an unusual project. Firstly, he had to work on a limited budget, so ordinary brick and imitation stone were used in the construction. And secondly, his fantasy was “framed”. Antonio first coordinated all his architectural and decorative ideas with the priest, and only after that he could bring them to life. Not surprisingly, most of the plans were rejected.
The architect nevertheless decorated the school as much as possible. To do this, he used numerous neat arches and decorative elements on the battlements of the building, which look like professors' hats.
5. House Calvet (Casa Calvet)
Another masterpiece of architect Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona at first glance seems ordinary and unremarkable, but it’s worth taking a closer look…
Gaudí's Calvet House was built by order of the widow of the late industrialist Pere Calvet, in accordance with all the criteria for a "profitable" house. Shops were located on the first floor, the hostess herself lived on the second floor, and the remaining levels were given to tenants.
It's a paradox, but the most "ordinary" creation of Antonio Gaudi immediately after construction, in 1900, was recognized as the best building in Barcelona. For many, this came as a surprise, since by this time Antonio had completed several projects that looked more refined and sophisticated. However, the authorities of the capital of Catalonia, it was this creation that seemed the most worthy.
In the design of the facade, Gaudi thought through every little thing. So, honeycombs suggested the shape of the peephole to the architect. When creating it, the genius dipped his fingers into the clay mass several times, and then filled the resulting shape with metal.
And the knockers on the front doors hit the image of the bed bug. Perhaps, according to the ancient Catalan custom, the killing of this insect brought good luck and prosperity to the house. Or maybe Antoni Gaudí just didn't like pests.
Today, the Kalvet house is still used for its intended purpose: the basement is reserved for warehouses, the first floor is occupied by an office, and residential apartments are located on the remaining floors.
6. Figueres House on Bellesguard Street, Barcelona (Casa Figueras)
At the beginning of the 15th century, King Marty the Humane built a magnificent palace on the slope of Mount Tibidabo, which he called Bellesguard - translated from Catalan "beautiful view". Five centuries later, in 1900, a completely different, more modest neo-Gothic palace by the architect Antonio Gaudi arose on the same site. Subsequently, he received the name of the House of Figueres.
The house turned out in a rather bizarre style. The structure seems to be directed upwards, although the structure itself is far from being high. Gaudi achieved a similar effect by using a sharp spire in the construction, as well as by deliberately overestimating each part of the house. The height of the basement was 3 meters, the first floor - 5 meters, mezzanine - 6 meters. The total height of the house reaches 33 meters and it looks completely completed in the vertical direction.
In the course of construction work, Gaudí displaced the medieval road somewhat and placed it on vaults with inclined columns. He also uses this technique in Park Güell.
Until 2013, the house of Figueres was closed to the public, but since the owners needed funds for reconstruction, they decided to open it to tourists.
Slowly, we are approaching the most interesting. These are the well-known and popular sights of Antoni Gaudi's hands in Barcelona, and the first of them is Park Güell.
7. Park Guell. Garden City (Parc Güell)
Probably, each of us at least once saw Gaudí's gingerbread houses - one of the symbols of the capital of Catalonia, which is found on postcards, magnets and other souvenirs. You and I can find them at the entrance to Park Güell, or sometimes it is called "Gaudi Park".
Once upon a time, this popular park in Barcelona began its development as a commercial project. After a trip to England, Güell was impressed by the park areas and set about creating something similar in Barcelona. To do this, he purchased a large plot on a hill and asked Antoni Gaudí to take over the project. According to Güell's idea, the park was to become a residential community for the Catalan elite. But the inhabitants of the city did not support his efforts. As a result, only 3 exhibition copies were built from residential buildings, in which the authors of the project themselves - Güell and Gaudi, as well as their lawyer friend, settled. Later, the Barcelona City Council bought the property from the heirs of the patron and transformed it into a city park, and opened a municipal school and a museum in two houses. The lawyer's house still belongs to his family.
The architect did a great job. He designed all the necessary communication systems, planned streets and squares, built viaducts, ramparts, entrance pavilions and a staircase that leads to the 100 Columns Hall. On the roof of the hall there is a large square, surrounded by a bright curved bench around the perimeter.
8. Casa Batlló
"House of Bones", "Dragon House", "Yawning House" are all names by which Casa Batllo in Barcelona is known.
This attraction is located in the very center of Barcelona, and with all your desire you will not be able to pass by without noticing it. A humpbacked roof that looks like a dragon's spine, a mosaic facade that changes color depending on the lighting, balconies that resemble the faces of big-eyed flies or skulls - all this makes an indelible impression.
Antonio Gaudí received an order for the reconstruction of the house from a textile magnate who planned to completely demolish the old building. Keeping the original structure of the house, the architect designed two new facades. The main one overlooks Passeig de Gracia, the back one goes inside the quarter.
To improve the lighting and ventilation of the building, Gaudi combined the light shafts into a single courtyard. Here, the architect created a special play of chiaroscuro: in order to achieve uniform lighting, Gaudí gradually changes the color of the ceramic cladding from white to blue and blue.
Part of the façade is covered in a mosaic of broken ceramic tiles that starts in golden hues, continues in orange, and ends in blue-green.
9. House Mila - Pedrera (Casa Milà)
Casa Mila is Antonio Gaudí's latest secular project. After its construction, the architect devoted himself entirely to the main masterpiece of his life - the Sagrada Familia Cathedral.
Initially, the people of Barcelona did not accept Gaudí's new creation. Mila's house was nicknamed "Pedrera" which means "stone quarry" for its uneven and ponderous appearance. Builders and owners of the house were even fined several times for non-compliance with generally accepted standards. But soon the passions subsided, they quickly got used to the house and began to treat it as another creation of a genius.
When building Pedrera, Antoni Gaudí used technology that was far ahead of its time. Instead of the classic supporting and load-bearing walls, it used an irregularly shaped steel frame reinforced with arches and columns. Thanks to this, it was possible to give the facade of the house an unusual floating shape, and the layout of the apartments, at the request of the owner of the house, could change at any time. This technology is also very popular among modern builders who use it in the construction of monolithic-frame houses. But more than a century has passed!
But the architect's talent was fully revealed on the roof of Mila's house. Here, Gaudi created a special, fairy-tale world, decorating chimneys and elevator shafts with unusual sculptures.
Despite its cultural value, Mila's house is still residential today. Only the exhibition hall with the works of Antonio Gaudi, an apartment reflecting the life of that time, and the roof of the building are open for inspection.
10. Sagrada Familia (Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família)
Sagrada Familia is the main masterpiece of Antonio Gaudi, the project of his whole life, to which he dedicated 43 years. The construction of the cathedral began in 1882 under the direction of the architect Francesco del Villar. But a year later, young Gaudi was appointed in his place. According to his idea, the height of the cathedral should be only one meter lower than the highest mountain in Barcelona - 170 meters. With this, the architect wanted to show that what was created by human hands cannot be higher than what God created.
The expiatory temple of the Sagrada Familia, like many other creations of Gaudí, is designed in the spirit of the philosophy of unity with nature. The building should be crowned with 18 towers - this is a symbol of the apostles, evangelists and Jesus Christ.
The facades of the cathedral are already decorated with sculptures depicting not only biblical characters, but also animals, grapes and various symbols reflecting facts from the life of saints.
It is noteworthy that the animal figures were created by Gaudí himself. He put his "models" to sleep and created their exact sculptures.
The interior of the cathedral is also thought out to the smallest detail. Gaudi assumed that from the inside the cathedral would resemble a forest, with stars visible through the branches of trees. As a reflection of this idea, multifaceted columns appeared in the cathedral, supporting the high vaults of the temple.
Closer to the vaults, the columns change their shape and branch out like trees. The stars in this grandiose project were window openings located at different heights.
The death of Antonio Gaudi was as extraordinary as his whole life, as well as his work. On June 7, 1926, at the age of 73, he was hit by a tram. The architect lost consciousness, but the cabmen were in no hurry to take him to the hospital: he had neither money nor documents, and he looked extremely untidy. As a result, he ended up in a hospital for the poor.
Gaudí died on June 10, 1926 and was buried in his favorite place - in the Expiatory Church of the Sagrada Familia.
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