Gaudi works of art: List of Top 10 Antoni Gaudi Works

List of Top 10 Antoni Gaudi Works

Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926) is probably the most famous and admired Catalan architect. He was
the leading figure of the so-called Modernisme or Catalan Modernism (a Catalan equivalent to Art Nouveau)
although his greatest works reflect a unique style that transcended individual architectural styles and
movements. Most of his greatest works were built in or near Barcelona, while as many as 7 have been
recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. All are included in the list of top 10 Antoni Gaudi works below.

Sagrada Familia

The most famous of all Gaudi’s works has been under construction since 1882. The famed architect took
over the construction of the Sagrada Familia (Spanish for “Holy Family”) one year later but he
didn’t live to see his masterpiece completed. In fact, less than one-third of the church was completed
by the time of his death in 1926. It is scheduled to be finally completed on the 100th anniversary of the
architect’s death in 2026. In 2005, the Sagrada Familia was declared a World Heritage Site.

Casa Mila

Also known as La Pedrera, Casa Mila is one of the best examples of the architect’s creativity. A part
of the original UNESCO World Heritage Site of “Works of Antoni Gaudi” since 1984, the house was
built for Pere Mila i Camps and Roser Segimon i Artells between 1906 and 1912. Today, it is home to the
Fundacio Catalunya-La Pedrera which organizes a range of exhibitions and public activities but the building
is also open to the public for viewing.

Park Güell

Created between 1900 and 1914 for Catalan businessman Eusebi Güell, Park Güell is one of the most famous and
beautiful public parks in the world even though it was never completed. It was conceived as part of a
housing development in Barcelona which, however, was a failure. The site which features original Gaudi
sculptures, mosaics, and various structures – all blending in perfectly with the natural surroundings – was
eventually acquired by the city of Barcelona and opened to the public. In 1984, it was recognized as a World
Heritage Site.

Casa Batllo

Also referred to as the “House of Bones” (Catalan: Casa dels ossos), Casa Batllo wasn’t
actually built by the celebrated architect. However, it was Gaudi who made it one of the most famous
buildings in Barcelona. In 1904, he was hired by Joseph Batllo to redesign his home and make it stand out.
In 1906, Gaudi completed what became one of his most spectacular works, while Mr. Batllo got exactly what he
wanted – an eye-catching building in at the time very trendy and prestigious part of Barcelona. In 2005,
Casa Batllo became a part of the extended UNESCO World Heritage Site of “Works of Antoni Gaudi”.

Church of Colonia Güell

The Church of Colonia Güell is actually a crypt that was built according to Antonio Gaudi’s design
between 1908 and 1914. The original plan for the church that was intended for the workers in Santa Coloma de
Cervello was abandoned because its commissioner, Eusebi Güell, ran out of money before the Catalan architect
was able to complete it. Nevertheless, in 2005 UNESCO recognized the crypt as a World Heritage Site.

Episcopal Palace of Astorga

The Episcopal Palace of Astorga in the province of Leon, Spain, is one of most famous Gaudi’s works
outside Catalonia. It was built between 1889 and 1913 but Gaudi worked on its construction only until 1893
when he withdrew from the project due to disagreements with the city authorities. Though the Palace was
mostly completed, the construction continued only in 1907 when architect Ricardo Garcia Guereta picked up
where Gaudi left off. Guereta considerably modified the original Gaudi’s plan but he left the works
completed by the Catalan architect – virtually the entire structure with the exception of the roof – largely
intact.

Güell Palace

Gaudi built the Güell Palace, one of his first works and one of his greatest masterpieces in the late 1880s.
It was commissioned by one of Gaudi’s greatest admirers – the industrialist Eusebi Güell who used it
as his residence for about two decades before moving to a house in Park Güell. Just like the latter, the
Güell Palace was eventually acquired by the city of Barcelona. In 1984, the Palace became one of the first
three Gaudi’s works to be declared a World Heritage Site.

Casa de los Botines

Casa de los Botines, also known as Casa Fernandez y Andres is a spectacular building in Leon in the Spanish
province of Leon. Built according to Gaudi’s design in less than a year in 1891, the building was
commissioned by Simon Fernandez and Mariano Andres, owners of a company that worked with Eusebi Güell (who
recommended the famous architect to Fernandez and Andres). In the late 1920s, Casa de los Botines was bought
by the bank Caja Espana which had it remodeled to suit its needs but didn’t alter or change
Gaudi’s work in any way.

Casa Calvet

Casa Calvet stands out from Gaudi’s works. But it doesn’t stand out with a unique, original
or/and innovative design. Instead, it stands out for being kind of conventional and according to some,
conservative for Gaudi’s standards. The building which was designed as part residential and part
commercial property does feature distinctive “Gaudi’s touch” but it blends in with other
buildings in the district rather than standing out from the “crowd”. Casa Calvet was built for
the industrialist Pere Calvet between 1898 and 1900.

Casa Vicens

Casa Vicens, one of Gaudi’s first major works is also one of his most spectacular creations. Built as a
residential building for the entrepreneur Manuel Vicens between 1883 and 1889, Casa Vicens has served as a
private residence ever since. It changed its owners several times, most recently in March 2014 when it was
bought by MoraBanc group which pledged to renovate and open it to the public as a museum. In 2005, Casa
Vicens became one of four of Gaudi’s buildings that were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of
“Works of Antoni Gaudi”.

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‘God’s Architect’: Antoni Gaudi’s 5 Most Famous Works

Seven architectural properties by Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926) are classified as works of “Outstanding Universal Value” by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

It’s easy to see why; Gaudi’s organic, free-flowing shapes and vibrant colours are remarkable across a sea of muted buildings, and any of his distinctive works can be spotted a mile away.

Breaking away from tradition, Gaudi’s works were largely shaped by the Art Nouveau movement, or the regional variation referred to as Catalan modernism.

Read on to learn more about the Catalan architect’s life, career, and to discover some of Gaudi’s greatest works.

IS ANTONI GAUDI A MADMAN OR GENIUS?

Gaudi was born in 1852 in Reus, a town in the Tarragona province that is about sixty miles from Barcelona (or about a 1. 5-hour drive away, today).

His ancestors originated from the Auvergne region in France and moved to Catalonia in the 17th century.

In school, he excelled in geometry and subjects that involved three-dimensional modelling.

In 1868, when he was 16, he moved to Barcelona to study architecture – studies that were interrupted by obligatory military service but that he was able to resume with frequent sick leave due to his poor health.

He also helped with foundation work at Parc Ciutadella as a draftsperson.

“I do not know if we have awarded this degree to a madman or to a genius; only time will tell,” famously said the director of the programme, when Gaudi graduated.

Unlike many great architects and artists who made it late in their careers, Gaudi’s success took off rather quickly – locally, that is.

His first commission was from the Barcelona City Council, which asked the young architect, a fresh graduate, to design candelabras (in this instance, meaning lamp posts) for the bustling Placa Reial square in the Gothic Quarter.

Shortly after that, a chance encounter manifested into a turning point for his career.

In 1878, Gaudi had designed a window display for the Comella glove factory that was showcased at the Spanish Pavillion at the Paris World’s Fair.

It was here that the affluent Catalan industrialist (and later Count) Eusebi Guell discovered his work and asked to be put in touch.

Guell would come to commission many of Gaudi’s most famous works in a tight-knit friendship that spanned over 40 years, and projects commissioned by the entrepreneur and loyal patron include Park Guell, the Guell Palace and the Guell Pavilions.

HOW ANTONI GAUDI BECAME ‘GOD’S ARCHITECT’

A devout Catholic, Gaudi is frequently referred to as “God’s architect” for his magnum opus, the La Sagrada Família church in Barcelona.

“My client can wait,” he would say in reference to God as he consistently made changes in design.

Starting in 1910, he abandoned all other work and focused on it almost exclusively.

Though still incomplete and under construction 140 years later, La Sagrada Família continues to be Barcelona’s ultimate icon and its most-visited landmark with over three million visitors each year.

When Art Nouveau – the international stylistic movement of the 1890s that focused on ornamentalism and rejected the classical styles of the 19th century – arrived in Catalonia, it took on regional Mediterranean influences and morphed into Modernisme (or Catalan modernism).

Gaudi heralded the movement and has since become the defining figure of Modernisme. His Casa Vicens building is considered to be sort of a Catalan launch of the movement.

Among his many other hallmark stylistic features, Gaudi is celebrated for his Trencadis (a term that translates into “broken”) technique – a multi-coloured jigsaw, or mosaic, of broken shards, whether glass, ceramic, or stone.

He used this method to flexibly shape colour across his rounded and organic shapes, which would not have been possible otherwise.

Frequently relying on discarded or waste resources, Trencadis also distinguishes Gaudi as a pioneer of sustainability in architecture.

Gaudi died in 1926, aged 73, in a run-in with a tram on Barcelona’s Gran Via de les Corts Catalane.

A TIMELINE OF ANTONI GAUDI’S LIFE

1852: Gaudi is born in Reus, a town in the Tarragona province of Catalonia.

1868: He moves to Barcelona to study architecture, a city that he is patriotic to and that he remains in until his death.

1876: Gaudi’s mother and brother pass away.

1878: Gaudi graduates from university. He also presents his plans for the lamp posts designed for the Barcelona City Council. He meets the entrepreneur Eusebi Guell, who would come to commission many of his most famous works.

1883: Gaudi begins work on his first building commission, the private residence Casa Vicens. He also begins his life-long work on his greatest project, La Sagrada Família, taking over work by the architect Francisco de Paula del Villar.

1900: Gaudi starts work on Eusebi Guell’s English-style luxury housing project, Park Guell.

1904: The textile industrialist Josep Batllo Casanovas commissions Gaudi with the renovation of Casa Batllo, which comes to be nicknamed “the house of the dragon”.

1906: Gaudi moves into Casa Rosada, one of the two show homes in Park Guell. His father dies the same year. He begins work on Casa Mila.

1912: He abandons all work to focus exclusively on La Sagrada Família.

1926: Gaudi dies after a collision with a tram at the age of 73.

View of Gaudi’s famed Trencadis technique. Photo: Raimond Klavins/Unsplash

5 OF ANTONI GAUDI’S MOST FAMOUS WORKS

Gaudi’s most famous works, including the La Sagrada Família, Casa Batllo and Park Guell, are all in Barcelona, a city he was deeply devoted to and his ultimate playground.

CASA VICENS (1883-1885)

Before the trendy Gracia district in Barcelona was a neighbourhood, it was a separate village of its own.

The wealthy Catalan stockbroker Manuel Vicens Montaner commissioned Gaudi to build his second home as the architect’s very first architectural project after graduating.

Gaudi built the four-storey Casa Vicens with Neo-Moorish influences, a revival style of the 13-16th century Mudejar architecture by Al-Andalus, or the Arab-Muslim presence in the Iberian Peninsula.

One of the most popular highlights of Casa Vicens is its smoking room, a vibrant space that was built for men to relax which features an ornate, palm-tree-like, bright blue plasterwork ceiling and papier-mache-tiled walls.

In 2014, the Andorran bank MoraBanc purchased Casa Vicens and restored it, later opening it in 2017 to the public as a museum.

The smoking room in Casa Vicens, Barcelona. Photo: Pol Viladoms, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

LA SAGRADA FAMILIA (1882-IN PROGRESS)

La Sagrada Família is a Roman Catholic church located in the Eixample neighbourhood in Barcelona, considered by many to be Gaudi’s greatest works in terms of scale.

It’s also the city’s most-visited landmark with over three million visitors each year. There’s one amusing characteristic that differentiates it from the churches of Europe: it’s still incomplete.

The ambitious project was initially commissioned by Josep Maria Bocabella Verdaguer, the owner of a religious bookstore, to the architect Francisco de Paula del Villar.

Bocabella wanted the church to be modelled after the Sanctuary of the Holy House in Loreto, Italy after seeing it on a visit to the Vatican.

Del Villar proposed a neo-Gothic design and work began in 1882. But, Del Villar didn’t see eye-to-eye with Bocabella’s team and the architect resigned. That turned out to be for the best because the project (already in progress) was handed to a young Gaudi.

Gaudi was only 31 at the time and had come face-to-face with his largest, most ambitious project. A faithful Catholic himself, he devoted himself entirely to the design of La Sagrada Família.

Unfortunately, Gaudi never got the chance to see the completion of his greatest work and even provided instructions to the architects that would later take over the project.

Both he and Bocabella were buried in the crypt of the church when they died.

La Sagrada Família has been under construction for over 140 years now and has witnessed multiple political controversies over time, including vandalism during the Spanish Civil War.

Its completion date, which mainly awaits work on the tallest spire and the main facade, remains uncertain and was recently delayed from the previously announced 2026 due to the pandemic.

Exterior view of La Sagrada Fami lia in Barcelona. Photo: Mohammad Edris Afzali/Unsplash

PARK GUELL (1900-1914)

Located on Carmel Hill in the La Salut neighbourhood in Barcelona, Park Guell is one of the largest parks in the city.

It’s a sight to behold attested by the fact that around 12 million tourists visit it each year.

Spread across five acres, the project was commissioned by the entrepreneur Eusebi Guell who, inspired by English-style projects, was looking to build a luxury residential housing network with 60 homes, pavilions and gardens.

Other highlights of Park Guell include the Hypostyle Hall – a marketplace with 80 columns – and the Greek Theatre – a large space for open-air shows.

Works started in 1900, but only two of the planned houses were built and there was little buyer interest in the project. In 1906, and after it failed to sell, Gaudi moved into the Casa Rosada, a show home inside Park Guell where he lived with his father and niece.

The residential project eventually turned into a large private space leased for special events, and following Guell’s death, into a large public park for the city of Barcelona.

Park Guell was Gaudi’s last residence until he passed away in 1926. In 1984, UNESCO granted Park Guell World Heritage Site status.

Park Guell in Barcelona. Photo: Daniel Corneschi/Unsplash

CASA BATLLO (1904-1906)

Welcome to “the house of the dragon”. Located on Barcelona’s most bustling and trendiest avenue, Passeig de Gracia, Casa Batllo is a private residence project commissioned by the textile industrialist Josep Batllo Casanovas.

Casanovas tasked Gaudi with the entire transformation of the building, and even gave him the green light to demolish the previous structure (built by Gaudi’s previous professor, no less).

Gaudi refused and chose to work with alterations and additions instead, changing the internal distribution of the home and completely uplifting the exterior facade with fantastical imagery and symbolism.

Inspired by marine life, Gaudi embedded vibrant, natural coral colours on the exterior facade and once again worked with his famed Trencadis mosaic technique using glass, stone, iron and ceramics.

His scaled, arched design for the roof which looks like a reptile’s skin gave it its nickname “house of the dragon”.

Casa Batllo is currently privately owned by the Bernat family who operates it as a museum.

Casa Batllo in Barcelona. Photo: Ruggiero Calabrese/Unsplash

CASA MILA (1906-1910)

When it was unveiled to the public, Casa Mila was mockingly referred to as La Pedrera, or “the stone quarry”, for its resemblance to a cliff-like quarry.

Casa Mila was commissioned by the extravagant couple Pere Mila Camps and Rosario Segimon and is located on the same street as Casa Batllo, on the busy Passeig de Gracia in Barcelona.

Nine stories high with two apartment blocks, the building features a signature curvy facade, wrought iron balconies, and uneven roofs.

The couple intended to live on the main floor and lease out the remaining apartments, and residents would later include the Egyptian prince Ibrahim Hassan.

The Casa Mila project was controversial in its entirety and the owners even filed a lawsuit against Gaudi due to issues with Barcelona City Council’s building codes (Gaudi eventually won the case).

Public opinion has since changed and Casa Mila has grown to be loved by local residents. The La Pedrera nickname, however, is still in use.

Casa Mila in Barcelona. Photo: Alessandra Easterthere/Unsplash

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ANTONI GAUDI

Much like his architecture, Gaudi is full of surprises. Here are some of them.

ANTONI GAUDI’S FIRST COMISSION WAS FOR BARCELONA LAMP POSTS IN 1879

Upon graduating from university, the Barcelona City Council invited Gaudi to design gas-powered public candelabras, or lamp posts, in Placa Reial.

In an introductory essay, he described each lamp to be “of noble simplicity, without weakness, giving each part the importance it requires”.

A decade later, the City Council invited him once again to design those in Pla del Palau. The lamp posts are still standing in Placa Reial and Pla del Palau in Barcelona, like secret Easter eggs around the city.

ANTONI GAUDI WAS ABOUT TO BUILD NEW YORK’S HIGHEST BUILDING

In 1908 at the invitation of two American businessmen, Gaudi designed the “Hotel attraction” (or Hotel Atraccion), a building over 1000 feet high with a star-shaped spheric top.

Planned to be erected in Lower Manhattan, it would have been the highest building in the city. Eventually it was not built, for reasons that are still debated and unknown.

MOST OF ANTONI GAUDI’S BUILDINGS WERE IN CATALONIA

While “starchitects” in this time and day like Frank Gehry and Jean Nouvel would have their fame reach all continents, Gaudi never got the chance to see his work outside of Spain and his work largely came to be celebrated in the 20th century. He developed architectural concepts for New York and Tangiers, Morocco – both of which were never brought into fruition.

ANTONI GAUDI WAS 31 WHEN HE STARTED WORK ON LA SAGRADA FAMILIA

When the architect Francisco de Paula del Villar resigned from his work on the massive church, someone had to take over. Gaudi did.

ANTONI GAUDI DIED IN A COLLISION WITH A TRAM

While walking across the Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes in 1926, he was dressed so messily that bystanders thought he was a beggar.

He was 73, weeks shy of his 74th birthday.

“Antoni Gaudi Cornet. Native of Reus. Born 74 years ago, an exemplary man, an exalted craftsman, author of the admirable work of this temple, died in Barcelona on June 10, 1926, here the ashes of such a great man await the resurrection of the dead,” reads his tombstone in Latin, located in the crypt of the Sagrada Família.

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Cover Credit: Dimitry B/Unsplash

Writer | Bana Bissat

Bana Bissat is a Milan-based writer who reports on sound art for Sound of Life. She has written for Flash Art, Lampoon, and Cultured. @banabissat

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All works of art by Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona

1 CASA MILA – CASA MILÀ (LA PEDRERA) IN BARCELONA
2 CASA BATTLÓ
3 SAGRADA FAMILIA (LA SAGRADA 4 90PA004) RK GUEL ( PARK GÜELL
5 TORRE BELLESGUARD ODER CASA FIGUERAS
6 CASA VICENS
7 PALACE GUELL
8 COLEGIO DE LAS TERESIANAS)
9 CASA CALVET
10 FAROLAS DE LA PLAZA REIAL
11 PABELLONES DE LA FINCA GÜELL
BRUNDE HERK 12 PEDRALBES)
13 GATE PORTAL MIRALLES
14 MOSAICS OF THE CHURCH OF SANT PACIÀ
15 OTHER ARCHITECTURAL WORKS OF GAUDI NEAR BARCELONA.

One of the most famous architects in the world is undoubtedly one of the greatest personalities of Barcelona, attracting everyone’s attention Antonio Gaudí . He was born in 1852 in the Catalan city of Reus and became one of the most prolific representatives of the modernist architectural movement.

Although many are probably familiar with his famous masterpieces, such as Sagrada Familia or Parc Guell , there are still many other buildings and sights that this genius left as a legacy to the city of Barcelona. Let’s discover the works of Gaudí together with us and find good reasons for visiting them.

CASA MILA – CASA MILÀ (LA PEDRERA) IN BARCELONA

Also known as La Pedrera , this architectural masterpiece is one of the architect’s most famous and unsurpassed creations. Antonio Gaudí designed this house in 1906 as his last design and placed it in the Golden Quarter of Paseo de Gracia. The magnificent roofed terrace, adorned on both sides with chimneys and parabolic arches, attracts many visitors. If you are planning to come to Barcelona in the summer, you should know that the Fundació La Pedrera charity organizes outdoor concerts on the terrace. Check out the exact dates for these concerts if you’d like to experience this stunning monument in a different way.

Metro lines 2,3 and 4 take you to station Passeig de Gràcia and you will see La Pedrera right in front of the station. In addition, we advise you to purchase entrance tickets in advance so as not to stand in a long queue.

CASA BATTLÓ

Many people are of the opinion that this is the most beautiful building of all the buildings of Gaudí, and therefore must be included in the visit plan when traveling. Although this house was built between 1904 and 1907 and looks much more modest than La Pedrera, but it is considered an architectural treasure on the Paseo de Gracia. In this structure, numerous elements of unity with nature are visible: from the windows in the shape of bats, the main staircase, reminiscent of the spine, and to the upper part of the facade, shining with dragon scales. In addition to its bright facade, the interior of this marvelous building fascinates visitors, and it is also very well preserved. If you follow our advice, you will have a chance to experience the spirit of the great Gaudí in all its splendor.

Casa Batlló is located near La Pedrera and can therefore also be reached by metro line L3 to the Diagonal station. It is open daily from 9:00 to 21:00.

LA SAGRADA FAMILIA

Undoubtedly, this majestic cathedral is the most famous architectural masterpiece of the architect Gaudí, it is known throughout the world. The imposing Sagrada Familia , still under construction, is one of the most visited attractions in the city of Barcelona and obviously the most phenomenal. Not only the stunning details of its outer façade captivate tourists, but its interior never ceases to amaze with its magnificence. Its huge, sky-high columns take you into the forest, which is perfectly illuminated through perfectly designed windows as you marvel at the depth of Gaudí’s architectural masterpiece during your visit to the crypt, and you can also visit the local museum. In addition, you can climb to the top of the columns that complete the building. Its narrow spiral staircases will take you to a place with stunning, breathtaking views of the city.

Metro line L5 will take you to the Sagrada Familia stop. We advise you to rent an audio guide, so you will get an explanation of the symbolism that is hidden in this great architectural creation.

PARK GÜELL

On the heights of Carmen is the city’s most famous park, which is also one of the most mysterious works of the modernist architect. In fact, the park was conceived as a private village for the wealthy people of Barcelona, but still, in the end, at 19In 26, it was opened as a public park, after the original idea failed for various reasons. Although few houses were built here, including Gaudí’s own house, here you can find monumental and sculptural elements that Gaudí placed in the park. These elements have made this place the most photographed: the beautiful Salamander Fountain (Fuente de la Salamandra) in the middle of the outer staircase and the mosaic-lined benches on the observation deck have long been a symbol of Barcelona.

Although the entrance to the center of the park is not free, you can still not pay to see the outside. Metro line L3 will take you there (to the Lesseps oder Vallcarca stop), from where you still have to walk 20 minutes. The alternative is bus number 24, which departs from Plaza Catalunya and reaches the entrance to the park.

TORRE BELLESGUARD ODER CASA FIGUERAS

This Gaudi piece in Barcelona has been declared a cultural heritage and is located at the foot of the Collserola hill. It is rather an unknown work by Gaudi, which is attributed to the period of his Gothic work, and has only been open to the public since 2013. The attic is built in the Catalan style, and multi-colored windows clearly stand out.

If you want to see the Bellesguard tower, you need to take the metro L7 Ferrocarriles Catalanes at Plaça Catalunya and get off at the Avinguda Tibidabo stop. There, transfer to bus number 123 or 197. When visiting the tower, you can rent an audio guide or join a group with a guide. Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday from 10:00 to 15:00.

CASA VICENS

This summer house, built in 1883, was the first major commission of the young Antonio Gaudí and is located in the Gracia quarter. This building combines all the important elements of the modernist style, in addition, the trend of the Moorish Mudéjar style is felt. It wasn’t until 130 years later that the house was made available for public viewing so that connoisseurs of the architect’s talent could see how his initial work influenced later ones.

To visit this beautiful creation, you need to take the metro line L3 to the Fontana or Lesseps station, and walk about 300 meters more to Calle de les Carolines. The house is open to the public from Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00.

PALACE GUELL

Another Gaudí masterpiece in Barcelona is the handsome wrought iron man. This famous palace rises in the heart of the city’s Raval quarter. The house was built by order of an admirer of Gaudi’s talent, his friend and patron, industrialist Eusebi Güell. He initiated this commission and wanted a Catalan architect to build him a main residence next to his family home. The influence of the Arabic style is also evident here, which is especially noticeable on the spectacular chimneys decorated by Gaudí in the form of sculptures.

You can visit this work of art in summer from 10:00 to 20:00 and in winter from 10:00 to 16:30. You can get there very simply on the green line of the metro line L3 (to the Liceu stop).

COLEGIO DE LAS TERESIANAS MONASTERY SCHOOL (COLEGIO DE LAS TERESIANAS)

This old monastery was built in 1890 and was also designed for Congregación de Religiosas Teresianas . Inspired by the Catalan Gothic, the architect keeps the design simple to reflect the oath promise of the poor of the monastic brotherhood, which is why this building consists mainly of brick. Yet typical features can be found in the aisles, such as the parabolic arches or their cross-shaped pediments.

This complex currently houses a private school, so there is no tour inside the building. And if you want to see the exterior facades of the building, you can take the L6 route from Plaça Catalunya to the La Bonanova stop, or by buses 14, 58, 64 and 70.

CASA CALVET HOUSE (CASA CALVET)

of the architect’s creations in Barcelona is the House of Calvet. Although he is considered to be in the era of naturalism, he at the same time looks very prosaic.

Today it houses a restaurant and private residences, the interior cannot be viewed. But if you want to see the hidden elements that adorn the façade, you can get there by metro line L1 from Calle de Casp 48 to Urquinaona station.

LIGHTS ON THE ROYAL SQUARE (FAROLAS DE LA PLAZA REIAL)

We have already named Gaudí’s most famous buildings, and now we move on to his next works in Barcelona. The lanterns were one of his first commissions from the town hall. They are made of wrought iron and have six lamps. Although Gaudi also designed three-lamp models, they are in front of the building of the civil government.

PABELLONES DE LA FINCA GÜELL

Pabellones de la Finca Güell is a complex of buildings in the Pedralbes estate. Master Gaudi Juan Martorell y Montels received an order to build a manor for Samya Güell. He himself instructed the architect to develop the design of two pavilions and the entrance part of the estate. Particular attention is drawn to the wrought iron fence and the gate, on which the iron dragon sits on guard. The fence itself is decorated with pieces of pottery and a small ceramic orange tree on the fence post.

The exterior of the pavilions can be viewed from Pedralbes (metro line L3 to Palau Reial stop). Tours of the interior of the estate (on Saturdays and Sundays until lunch) must be ordered by phone.

DER HERKULES-BRUNNEN (PALAU DE PEDRALBES)

The Fountain of Hercules stands to this day in the place where the Güell family estate was located, which is the central place among the gardens of the Royal Palace of Pedralbes. We are talking about a relatively small creation, which, nevertheless, successfully reflects the character of the architect. Just like the pavilions of the estate, you can get to the fountain by metro L3 to Palau Reial station. The Royal Gardens can be visited in winter from 10:00 a.m. to 07:00 p.m. The exception is the days when legal holidays are held here.

PORTAL MIRALLES GATE

Portal Miralles is Antoni Gaudí’s most inconspicuous work that has survived to this day. This entrance gate was designed by Gaudí shortly after the Calvet House was completed. One entrepreneur, who often collaborated with an architect in the past, asked him to design a house for him. But aside from the undulating and mosaic-decorated entrance gate, his contribution to the project ended there.

This facility is located at Paseo Manuel Girona 55 (Metro line L3 to Maria Cristina stop).

MOSAIC OF THE CHURCH OF SANT PACIÀ

Many people don’t know that one of Gaudí’s first works is in this church in Sant’Andreu. We are talking about mosaics and other elements created by Gaudí in a neoclassical style, which is very different from his work created up to that time. Unfortunately, today only this mosaic has survived, since the remains of the mentioned elements of the then student Gaudí disappeared during the uprising in Catalonia, known as the “Tragic Week” in 1909 (Semana Tragica de 1909).

This community is located at Carrer de les Monges 27 , which can be reached by metro line L1 (haltestelle Fabra i Puig stop).

OTHER ARCHITECTURAL WORKS OF GAUDI NEAR BARCELONA.

Other works of Gaudí culture in Catalonia are Gaudí’s Crypt in Colonia Güell in the industrial suburb of Santa Coloma de Cervello, near Barcelona, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Mataronina factory in Mataró, Güell’s wine cellars in Sitges.

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Sagrada Familia, Casa Batllo, El Capriccio

Biography of Antonio Gaudí

Genius Gaudí as it is

Antoni Gaudi (Antoni Gaudí; born June 25, 1852 – died June 10, 1926 years) left the deepest imprint in world architecture. To visit Barcelona and not see the buildings built by this brilliant architect is almost a crime. Houses designed by Gaudí are a hymn to modernity and a hallmark of the Catalan capital. No matter how big a fan of football, bullfighting and temperamental Spanish wines you are, acquaintance with Barcelona should start with architecture.

Antonio Gaudi. Photo of the architect

Antonio Gaudi is one of the few architects who have made an invaluable contribution to the architectural heritage of mankind. It is difficult to even remember the masters whose contribution would be comparable to the works of the great Spaniard. After all, to simply call the buildings designed by the master contrary to all the canons of classical architecture, the language does not turn.

Biography of Antoni Gaudí

Antonio Gaudí’s Art Nouveau style was formed under the influence of Ruskin (John Ruskin), who proclaimed the idea that the basis of architecture is decorativeness. Another inspirer of the great genius is the Neo-Gothic ideologist Viollet-de-Duc (Eugène Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc). When Antonio just started his career, neo-gothic was in vogue. It was from her that Gaudi moved to his architectural phantasmagoria, it was the neo-Gothic that served as the basis for them.

Antonio Gaudi. Gaudi’s inspiration. Eugene Violet-de-Duc

Gaudí’s creations are integral with the landscape, so much so that they seem to be works of nature, not human hands. Buildings and parks resemble streams of waterfalls and rifts of mountain rivers, exotic creepers and dunes of deserts. The architect’s favorite technique is parabolic arches, which are associated with the Holy Trinity.

Antonio Gaudi. Gaudí’s parabolic arches in Casa Batlló

The great Spanish architect was born on June 25, 1852. The birthplace was the Catalan city of Reus. He was a weak, sickly child. In early childhood, he suffered a serious illness, the result of which was almost disability. Not being able to play with peers, he diligently discovered the world of nature, whose forms inspired him all his life. At the same time, it was difficult for the future celebrity to even hold a pencil in his hands because of his sore joints!

The father’s profession (he was a coppersmith) also left its mark on the formation of the tastes of a genius. For hours the boy could watch the work of copper boilers and stills in his father’s workshop.

Interest in drawing and architecture manifested itself early – already being a schoolboy at the College de los Padres Escolapios, the future great architect painted the theater curtain of the school studio, and in 1867 several works of the genius were published in the school magazine.

Genius or crazy Gaudí

After graduation, Antonio Gaudí went to Barcelona, Catalonia to continue his education. The next stage of his development as an architect was the Provincial School of Architecture. Father’s money was not enough for training, so the master worked as a draftsman. Along the way, he continued to study architecture and even create his first creations – lanterns, fences, furniture. This was followed by projects of fountains, the central Barcelona hospital, the sea pier, the assembly hall and the cemetery gates.

An interesting story is connected with the gate, which exhaustively characterizes the architect. It is said that when the architect received the commission, he first of all set about drawing the funeral procession in every detail. The teacher of the young talent was outraged, but Gaudi called him a fool who does not understand a damn thing about beauty, and, slamming the door loudly at last, left the student audience. It was this episode that caused the label “genius or madman” to appear, which accompanies the name of the architect to this day.

Antonio Gaudi. Casa Batllo

In 1876, Antonio lost his mother and brother, which was a heavy blow for him. But two years later, the bitterness of the loss was diluted by the first professional success, which received public recognition. The city commissioned a craftsman to design a street lamp for one of Barcelona’s squares. And already in 1878, Gaudi became a certified architect and got a job with Eudaldo Punta (Eudaldo Punta)

Antonio Gaudi. Lantern Gaudí

Friend and best patron of Gaudí

Alas, graduation did not bring any serious financial benefits. Antonio Gaudí took on any job to support himself. One of his first orders – the design of a glove shop (its showcase) – was the reason for the meeting that changed the life of the architect. The designer assembled whole compositions with scenes of city life from gloves. And his work was closely watched by Count Eusebi Guell i Bacigalupi (Eusebi Güell i Bacigalupi), a Catalan industrialist, and in addition, a person who was not alien to art (the count was a talented painter), who later became Gaudi’s main patron. It was Guell who instructed the architect to make sketches of buildings, which were later recognized as masterpieces of world architecture.

Antonio Gaudi. Casa Vicens

Early Modern Gaudí

Gaudi, meanwhile, did not leave his research. He carefully studied the architecture of the city, got acquainted with outstanding architects. One such acquaintance with the famous Joan Martorell (Joan Martorell i Montells) lit his star in the firmament of the greatest artists of mankind. Under the patronage of Martorel, in early November 1883, Antonio was approved as the chief architect of the Barcelona pearl Sagrada Familia (Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família). At the same time, work began on Casa Vicens (Casa Vicens), and in parallel, the genius was engaged in the construction of the bizarre and magnificent El Capriccho (Capricho de Gaudí), ordered by Diaz de Quijano, famous for his eccentricity.

Antonio Gaudí, Sagrada Familia

Antonio Gaudi. El Capriccio

These first projects by Gaudí are characterized by luxurious decoration. Now they are usually attributed to the earliest modern. This was followed by the construction of a horse yard and entrance gates. Convinced of the genius of Antonio, Güell made him an offer that the architect could not refuse. The project of the Barcelona residential building-Palau Güell brought him real fame and recognition.

Antonio Gaudi. Crypt of Gaudí in Colonia Güell

All his life the architect was a devoted Catholic. He has many projects for churches and cathedrals, including the Sagrada Familia, the Colónia Güell church, the crypt for the Monestir Santa Maria de Montserrat, and others. In parallel, the master worked on secular buildings. The last of these was Casa Milà. Alas, in 1926 the architect died, hit by a tram.

Antonio Gaudi. Casa Mila

Backstage Look

It’s always interesting to look behind the scenes. How did the personal life of the architect develop? Alas, no way. Rumor has it that due to failures on the love front, by the end of his years, Gaudí even became a misogynist. Remember the episode with the cemetery gates, when Antonio was rude to the teacher? It is very characteristic of the master. Contemporaries considered the genius to be callous and arrogant, unpleasant and withdrawn, contradictory to the point of absurdity. At the same time, among the closest people, Antonio was known as a true friend and pleasant conversationalist. Here is such a contrast.

Gaudí’s genius as it is

A distinctive feature of Antoni Gaudí was the ability not to use blueprints. He used models created right in the process of work, or was content with sketches. Nobody managed to complete any of the unfinished buildings by the master! And the layout of the Sagrada Familia, which was constructed from sandbags suspended by ropes, was able to “read” and create on its basis a model of the temple understandable to humans only by current computers!

Antonio Gaudi.