Famous Spanish architect Gaudi. Barcelona is the cradle of the architectural genius Antoni Gaudi

There is no more expressive alternative to architectural patterns than the creations of the Catalan genius Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona. This does not mean at all that unification in urban planning is something outdated. On the contrary, it is eternal and necessary. But this is the value of the architecture of Gaudi (1852-1926) and his like-minded people, other Barcelona modernists, that they were able to create unique buildings without compromising the canons of construction engineering. Thanks to the fact that they boldly looked beyond the horizon of these canons.

Eixample and Gracia

Most of the Catalan Art Nouveau monuments are found in the Eixample and Gràcia districts. The name of the Eixample district, located on both sides of Passeig de Gràcia, translates as “extension”. Eixample is famous primarily for its unfinished Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) cathedral. According to some estimates, it will be completed by 2026, according to others - by 2030. Francisco de Villara began building the cathedral in the neo-Gothic style in 1884, but then found this work beyond his strength, and in 1891 Gaudí was appointed chief architect of the cathedral. To say that he lived in this cathedral is to say nothing. He gave him all his incomparable and powerful talent. He conceived three facades - the Nativity, the Passion of Christ and the Resurrection, each with four towers 112 m high. Twelve of these towers symbolize the apostles. Another four towers of 120 m each are the evangelists. The central, highest (170 m) is dedicated to Jesus. A tower with a bell tower in honor of the Virgin Mary crowns the apse.

In 1926, Gaudí died when he was hit by a tram. At this point, the crypt, apse, one tower and the magnificent façade of the Nativity were ready. Gaudi left only sketches; He did not draw up detailed drawings at all, sincerely believing that he received inspiration from God. But he made models, most of which were destroyed during the civil war of 1936-1939. His work continued in the 1950s. other architects. They follow the plan of a genius, but improvise. Gaudi would hardly have objected to this; he himself was a great improviser and did not consider eclecticism a sin. One way or another, but completed in the 1980s. The facade of the Passion of Christ by the architect Subirax has little in common with the facade of the Nativity.

There are other masterpieces by Gaudí in the Eixample. Casa Mila, or La Pedrera (The Quarry): it has a deliberately rough-hewn façade. The graceful grilles of the balconies of this house were created by his colleague Josep Maria Jujol. Another famous house is Batllo, also called the House of Bones. On its façade there are motifs of scales, and bones and skulls can be discerned in the shapes of the mezzanine columns and balconies. This symbolism has received different interpretations: the sea, carnival, etc. The most reasonable is the interpretation of the images as the victory of St. George over the dragon. The houses of Amalle and Morera next to Casa Batllo were created by other architects and are each interesting in their own way. All three houses form the Quarter of Discord, so called due to the stylistic heterogeneity of the buildings.

In the Gracia district there is the Vicens house in the Spanish-Arabic Mudejar style, built by Gaudí in 1878, and everything there, right down to the door handles, is his authorship. Gràcia is also home to Park Güell, which was created in 1900-1914. in the spirit of the English concept of the garden city, but in a way that the Anglo-Saxons could not even imagine. This is the embodiment of Gaudi's unbridled fantastic dreams. The most famous objects of the park are two seemingly fairy-tale houses at the entrance, a hall of one hundred columns (in reality there are 86 of them) and a winding concrete bench, decorated with a mosaic of glass fragments and ceramic tiles, according to the joint plan of Gaudí and Jujol.

Gracia district, back in the 19th century. inhabited by Barcelona's artistic bohemia, it remained so. It has a cozy, somewhat even “village” atmosphere, without the pomp that is inherent in the Eixample, but there are a lot of modernist houses, usually small and elegant, here.

The Eixample district originated in the 19th century. on a small plain between and the former towns of Sants, Gracia and Sant Andreu de Palomar, Ample and Gracia, which acquired the status of an urban area, according to the master plan of Barcelona of 1859, became a clearly urbanized environment with a grid of streets perpendicular to each other. In the Sants-Montjuic area is Mount Montjuic, part of the Calserolla mountain range that encircles Barcelona from the south. This area also includes the industrial port cluster Zona Franca.

Sants-Montjuic

The Montjuic hill, which in Barcelona is called a mountain, from its very foot is a kind of ceremonial backdrop to the central part of the city. Its colors include history, culture, sports, and nature.

The name Montjuïc is translated from Old Catalan as “Jewish mountain”. Jews lived here until 1492, when, according to the Edict of Granada, they had to leave Spain if they were not baptized. Most of them did just that. But the first settled inhabitants here were not Jews, but Iberians. It was a large tribe of unknown origin that settled the east of the Iberian (Iberian) Peninsula, including the territory of modern Catalonia, approximately in the 7th-6th centuries. BC e. The Sants-Montjuïc district, which included the former town of Sants, is also named after this mountain.

From the mountain you can see everything, the port and the sea. In the 17th century this circumstance had an important defensive significance, and here first a watchtower appeared, then earthen ramparts with a small fort, and in 1640-1694. A fortress castle with high walls on which 120 cannons were installed grew up. They didn’t have to shoot often, but there were such episodes. For example, in 1842, during the rebellion of the Catalans against the regent of the Kingdom of Spain, Baldomero Espartero.

The castle was completed and expanded for another 100 years, after which it became a prison for political prisoners, and during the civil war of 1936-1939, when Franco’s supporters conquered Catalonia, his opponents were shot here in a special pit. The castle remained a prison until 1960. In 1963, by order of the same Franco, after a radical reconstruction, it was transformed into a Military Museum.

Another large museum is the National Museum of Art of Catalonia, which in 1990 united the Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Art of Catalonia and Spain. It is located in the National Palace, built in neoclassical style in 1929 for the World Exhibition in Barcelona. The museum houses a rich collection of 236 thousand works by Catalan, Spanish and other Western European artists, mainly from the 17th-20th centuries, as well as a large collection of numismatics. The museum has an Art Library and several educational centers. Also in 1929, the Magic Fountain was built in front of the palace. In the evening, its jets of varying height and density, illuminated by rays of different colors, obey the tempo of the music playing. There is something similar or similar in many big cities, but the opinion of everyone who has the opportunity to compare is unanimous: the Barcelona fountain against the backdrop of the National Palace is the most impressive.

1929 was marked by another valuable acquisition for Montjuic - the Spanish Village. This is an open-air museum presenting the traditional architecture of different regions of Spain and the way of life of the people in them. In total there are 117 buildings in the village. These include genuine houses transported here from different places, and smaller copies of famous buildings. The Spanish village is a very lively place, with artisans working here using ancient technologies. Their workshops are open to everyone.

For the XXV Summer Olympics in 1992 in Barcelona, ​​a complex of structures that made up the Olympic Ring was erected in the central part of Montjuïc Mountain. Among the buildings that are still in operation today, there is a real work of art - a tower in the aesthetics of biotech, designed specifically for the operational full broadcast of sports competitions. Its author is Santiago Calatrava, a world-famous architect, and in the creative aspect, he is the heir of Gaudi. After the Olympics, the Sant Jordi Sports Palace began to perform other functions: in addition to sports competitions, concerts, performances, fairs, festivals, international conferences, and exhibitions are held here. The dynamics of Sants-Montjuïc are enhanced, literally too, by its magnificent gardens and parks.

general information

The three central districts of Barcelona are the capital of the autonomous region of Catalonia in Spain.
Currency unit : euro.
Languages: Catalan, Spanish (Castilian).
Airport: El Prat (international).

Numbers

Area of ​​the Eixample district : 7.48 km 2 .
Population of Eixample : 269,185 people (2010).
Area of ​​the Sants-Montjuic district : 21.65 km 2 .
Population of Sants-Montjuic : 252,171 people (2015).
Height of Montjuic mountain : 173 m.
Park Güell area : about 17 hectares.
Spanish village square on Montjuic mountain : 4.2 ha.

Climate and weather

Subtropical Mediterranean.
Average January temperature : +11.8°C.
Average temperature in July : +25.7°C.
Average annual precipitation : 565 mm.
Average annual relative humidity : 72%.

Economy

Tourism, trade, banking services.

Attractions

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Sagrada Familia Cathedral (construction started in 1884)

House of Vicens (1885)

House Mila (1910)

Park Güell (1900-1914)

Casa Batlló (1877, rebuilt by Gaudí in 1904-1905)

Museums

Fortified castle of Montjuic (XVII-XVIII centuries)

War Museum

National Palace (neoclassical, 1929)

National Museum of Art of Catalonia

Botanical Garden of Barcelona

Gardens Monsoon Casta-i-Ildobura (exotic plants)

"Spain industrial"

Curious facts

Experts believe that one of the main reasons for the unprecedentedly prolonged construction of the Sagrada Familia Cathedral is the exclusive features of the columns supporting the vault. Each stone block in them must have its own special and unique shape, while being technically reliable, primarily from a safety standpoint. Achieving this balance can be extremely difficult for civil engineers.

Those who knew Gaudi in adulthood could hardly imagine that in his youth he dressed elegantly and in the latest fashion: the great citizen of Barcelona in his mature years was often mistaken for an unkempt homeless man. The turning point in his appearance occurred when he came to the realization that his only mission on earth was to serve with all his might the art of architecture alone, and he stopped attaching importance to everything else, even his own appearance.

In 1999 Barcelona was awarded a gold medal by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). For the first time, it was awarded not to an individual architect or a group of architects, but to the city. In the professional community, this award has the highest prestige.

On Christmas Eve in Barcelona, ​​a figurine of a caganer is placed in a prominent place - a crouching little man in a red barretina cap with his pants down. It fertilizes the land, which brings good prospects for the coming year's harvest. Most likely this is a pagan tradition. Anyone, any politician, even the Pope can be depicted as a caganer: for Catalans, jokes on the topic of flesh are commonplace.

For children they play kaga tio - “pooping uncle”. His buttocks are supported by a log, which, the closer to the holiday, the thicker it becomes (this is the concern of the parents). On Christmas Eve, children beat the kaga tio with sticks, and candies fall out from under the cover thrown over it.

The world-famous Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi (1852-1926) managed to create 18 masterpieces, which for many decades have been considered the pinnacle of an innovative and unique style. To this day, some consider his fantastic constructions to be ingenious, while others consider them simply crazy. The bulk of these works are located in the master’s native Barcelona, ​​which became not only his home, but also a kind of strange laboratory in which Gaudi conducted amazing architectural experiments.

Although it is generally accepted that the Spanish architect worked in the Art Nouveau style, it is impossible to fit his projects into the framework of any movement at all. He lived and created according to rules that only he understood, adhering to incomprehensible laws, so all the master’s work is better classified as “Gaudi style.”

Today we will get acquainted with several of his masterpieces, which are rightfully considered the pinnacle of architectural art. In fairness, it should be noted that out of 18 of his projects, seven were included by UNESCO in the list of World Heritage Sites!

1. Casa Vicens (1883-1885), the first project of Antoni Gaudí

The Vicens residence, the first independent creation of the architect, was created by order of the wealthy industrialist Manuel Vicens. The house is still the main decoration of Carolines Street (Carrer de les Carolines), considered the most striking and unusual landmark of Barcelona, ​​which is included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

This house was built in the Art Nouveau style and forms a four-level architectural ensemble, in which even the smallest details play an important role.

Since Gaudi was a supporter of natural motifs and drew inspiration from them, every element of this unusual house was a reflection of his preferences.

Floral motifs are present everywhere, from the forged fencing, as well as the facade itself, to the interior. The creator's favorite images were yellow marigolds and palm leaves.

The structure of the Vicens house itself, including its decoration, shows the influence of oriental architecture. The decor of the entire unusual complex is made in the Moorish Mudejar style. It is clearly evident in the design of the Muslim turrets on the roof and in some details of the luxurious interior decoration.

2. Pavillons Guell

For Count Eusebi Güell, who after this grandiose project became not only the patron of the great master, but also a friend, Antonio Gaudi created an extraordinary estate, which is better known as the Güell Pavilions (1885-1886).

Fulfilling the count's order, the extraordinary architect not only carried out a complete reconstruction of the summer country estate with the improvement of the park and the creation of stables and an indoor arena, but combined all these ordinary buildings so that they turned into a fairy-tale complex.

When creating these pavilions, Antonio was the first to use a special technology – trencadís, which consists in using irregularly shaped pieces of ceramic or glass to cover the façade. By covering the surfaces of all rooms with the same pattern in a special way, he achieved an amazing resemblance to dragon scales.

3. City residence Guell (Palau Guell)

This fantastic project for his friend Antonio Gaudi in 1886-1888 is an unusual palace that the master managed to create on an area of ​​less than 400 square meters!

Knowing the owner’s main desire to amaze the city’s elite with the luxury of his home, the architect masterfully developed a very unusual project, which made it possible to create a truly extraordinary and fabulously rich castle. His style mixed centuries-old traditions, innovative techniques and ideas, which he applied with equal success in subsequent complexes.

The main highlight of this architecturally interesting palace is the chimneys, which look like bright, outlandish sculptures. Such splendor was achieved thanks to cladding with fragments of ceramics and natural stone.

The gables and roof terrace, which is designed for spectacular walks, delight visitors with incredible views of the city and the “magic garden” created by the amazing stove tubes.

4. Parc Guell

The project of the unusual Park Güell (1903-1910) was conceived in an effort to create a garden city, as a counterbalance to the growing industrialization of the country and protection from its dire consequences.

The huge plot was bought by the count for these purposes, but the townspeople did not support the author’s idea and instead of 60 houses, only three exhibition copies were built. Over time, the city bought these lands and turned them into a recreation park, where the delightful gingerbread houses of the architect Antoni Gaudi flaunt.

Since an elite village was planned here, Gaudi created not only all the necessary communications, but also planned picturesque streets and squares. The most striking structure was the “100 Columns” hall, to which a special staircase leads, and on the roof there is a stunningly bright bench that completely encircles the contours of the complex.

This garden city still delights its visitors with its extraordinary architecture and decoration; it is also included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

5. Casa Batllo

Casa 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”, “dragon house”, “yawning house”.

And really, looking at its strange balconies, window grilles, pediments and a roof that resembles the back of a dragon, you will get rid of the impression that these are the remains of a huge monster!

Creating a fantastic patio, to improve and uniform illumination, he achieved a play of chiaroscuro by laying out ceramic tiles in a special way - gradually moving from white to blue and dark blue.

According to tradition, the roof of the house was decorated with its outlandish chimney towers.

6. Casa Mila - Pedrera (Casa Mila)

This is the last residential building created by the great architect. It is better known as “La Pedrera”, which means “the quarry”. It is considered the most incredible residential building project not only in Barcelona, ​​but also in the world.

Initially, the masters did not accept this creation and considered it complete madness. Incredibly, Antonio and the owner of this building were even fined for non-compliance with existing urban planning regulations.

Over time, people got used to it and even began to consider it a brilliant creation, because during construction, without any calculations or designs, the architect managed to introduce technologies that were several decades ahead of their time.
Only a hundred years later, similar technology was developed by design institutes and began to be actively used in ultra-modern construction.

7. Cathedral of the Holy Family (Temple Expiatori De La Sagrada Familia)

The brilliant architect devoted the last forty years of his life to bringing his most unrealistic fantasy to life - enclosing the characters of parables and the main commandments of the New Testament in stone.

Its design is dominated by surreal Gothic style, the walls are decorated with images of saints and all sorts of God’s creatures, from turtles, salamanders, snails to the forest, the starry sky and the entire Universe.

Tall columns and unusual paintings decorate the interior of the temple (Temple Expiatori De La Sagrada Familia).

However, the construction of such a large-scale cathedral is still ongoing. Since the architect kept all the drawings and plans in his head, it took years to continue construction to make such complex calculations. Incredibly, only NASA’s program, which calculates the trajectory of space projects, could cope with this task!

Thanks to extraordinary architects, even in our time, unique buildings are created, which can be considered pretentious in form.

One of the greatest architects in the world and the most famous architect of Barcelona, ​​Gaudi could have died at birth. His mother’s birth was very difficult, and the midwife immediately gave up on the boy. To save the soul of the newborn, he was immediately baptized. Gaudí subsequently claimed that the fact that he survived was a miracle. And he believed that he had been chosen for a special purpose.

Childhood

Antonio Gaudi was born on June 25, 1852 in the small town of Reus, located in Catalonia. His father was the hereditary blacksmith Francesc Gaudi i Sierra, and his mother, after whom the boy was named, was Antonia Cornet i Bertrand. The child received his surname, as was customary in Spain, from both parents - Gaudi y Cornet.
The father taught the child to understand the beauty of the things around him and instilled in Gaudí a love for architecture and fine arts. From his mother he adopted faith in God and religiosity.
The boy grew up very sickly: he suffered from a severe form of arthritis, which caused severe pain from the simplest movements. He did not play outdoor games and rarely went for walks. It was difficult for him to walk, so he went for a walk on a donkey. But in mental development he was significantly ahead of many other children. Antonio was observant and liked to draw.
In 1863, he began studying at a school at a Franciscan monastery. In addition to Greek, poetry, rhetoric and Latin, he studied Christian doctrine, the history of religion and other religious disciplines, which influenced his way of thinking and creativity. Despite his intelligence, Antonio did poorly in school, and only geometry was easy for him.
Gaudi's family experienced many tragedies: his brother died in 1876. Following him, his mother also passed away. And 3 years later, the architect’s sister passed away, leaving her daughter in his care.

Studies

In 1868 Antonio moved to Barcelona. To pay for his education, he had to sell his father's lands. He became a student at the Higher School of Architecture only in 1874. Before this, Gaudi studied at the university at the Faculty of Exact Sciences, where he showed little diligence.
The school of architecture allowed more freedom for creativity and self-expression, and Gaudí soon became one of the best students. But his stubborn character and desire for protests often turned into low marks for him. The teachers decided that he was either a genius or crazy.
During his student years, the rheumatic pain in his legs finally disappeared, and Gaudí was able to walk normally. And this became one of his favorite activities.
Antonio completed his studies in 1878. And in 1906 he suffered another grief - the death of his father. Six years later, his niece followed him to the grave.

Carier start

From 1870 to 1882, Gaudí worked as a draftsman under the guidance of two architects, Francisco Villar and Emilio Sala. He learned crafts and entered competitions without success.
At first he carried out applied orders. The first official work of the architect Gaudi was lampposts in Plaza Reial.

These pillars were a candelabra of 6 arms mounted on a marble base. They are crowned with helmets of Mercury - a symbol of prosperity. This work was the first and last order of the city authorities, since the local municipality and Gaudí disagreed about his fee.
In 1877, the architect created his first major creation - fountain in Plaza Catalunya. And, starting from this time, he erected many unique buildings in the Art Nouveau style.

In 1883, Gaudí designs the first mansion. The wealthy manufacturer Manuel Vicens becomes his customer. It was necessary not only to build the house, but also to successfully fit it into the small space of the plot of land, frame it with a garden and at the same time create the illusion of space. The architect coped with this task brilliantly: turrets, bay windows, and balconies give the simple quadrangular building (cat. Casa Vicens) amazing volume.

In 1898 – 1900 is being built (cat. Casa Calvet). Unlike other Gaudi buildings, the house has a completely traditional appearance, and its facades are symmetrical. Its originality is given by alternating convex and flat balconies, as well as bobbins and columns in the form of coils - a tribute to the professional affiliation of the owner, who owned the textile industry. For the construction of this building, the architect was awarded the Barcelona Municipal Prize in 1900.
Gaudi rarely took into account the opinion of the customer. He was modest, but at the same time eccentric, and embodied all his fantasies in his works.

He was lucky to be born at a time when the Spanish bourgeoisie became rich and decided to show the whole world their triumph. Building a more elaborate house than your neighbor's was an easy way to prove your superiority. Therefore, architects with an original vision, and not always talented ones, were popular and had complete freedom of action.
During the same period, Gaudí erected buildings in the neo-Gothic style and in the spirit of the fortress, such as the one he started Bishop's Palace in the city of Astorga (cat. Palacio Episcopal de Astorga). The design of this building, located in Castilla, was entrusted to the architect in 1887 by the Bishop of Grau i Vallespinos, a Catalan by birth. Gaudi began to build a palace in the form of a medieval fortress, with a moat, four towers and battlements. This was a very daring decision for the clergyman's palace, but the bishop did not argue. The construction was interrupted by the sudden death of the customer in 1893, and the church council, dissatisfied with the excessive costs, entrusted the completion of the construction to another architect.

In addition to large-scale architectural works, Gaudi was involved in interior design and development of furniture sketches.

Fame

All the sights of Barcelona and other cities created by Antonio Gaudi are magnificent, but the works created after meeting Eusebio Güell brought him real popularity. He was a textile magnate, the richest Catalan, with creative flair and taste. And he became a friend and patron of the brilliant architect.
There are two versions of their friendship - one, they met at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1878, where Gaudi presented the project for the village of Mataro. However, this version is hardly plausible, since the models of the unknown architect could not attract the attention of the public.
According to another version, Guell noticed Antonio when he was decorating a Barcelona glove store. After receiving his diploma, the young man needed money and took on any job. When decorating the window, Gaudi did it impressively: from gloves strung on wire, he created entire scenes of city life: horses pulling carriages, people walking and cats, beloved by all Catalans.
Fascinated by the master’s work, Guell watched his work for a long time, and then asked the store owner to introduce him to Gaudi. Having learned that the young man was an architect, he invited him to visit him, where he received him warmly and cordially. After this, Gaudí became a frequent guest in Güell's house. He showed him new sketches of his buildings, and Eusebio always entrusted him with the construction of those that became a real masterpiece.
Many of the works and houses of the architect Gaudí will survive centuries, but these are the ones that brought him fame and finally shaped his unique style.

Palace Güell (cat. Palao Guell).

This house, the construction of which journalists compared with the construction of the Tower of Babel, was built in 1885 - 1900. Guell did not limit the architect's funds for construction and interior design. Only the most luxurious materials were used in the interior decoration of this house: tortoiseshell, ivory, ebony and eucalyptus. And if in the interior the most interesting part was the hall with a sky dome, then in the exterior the most impressive thing is the roof with 18 chimneys in the form of fancy turrets.

Casa Mila (cat. Casa Mila)

Casa Mila or Casa Mila was created by Antonio Gaudi in 1906-1910. for the Mila family. At first, Barcelona residents did not appreciate this steep, curved building, and nicknamed it La Pedrera - the quarry. The roof is also decorated with turrets that look like knights in fancy helmets, one of which is inlaid with shards of green bottle glass.

Casa Batllo (cat. Casa Batllo)

Antoni Gaudi's Casa Batllo also known as Casa Batllo And House of Bones, was rebuilt by Gaudi in 1904 - 1906. In the building, transformed by a genius, there are practically no straight lines. Its facade obviously depicts a dragon - the image of Evil. And the skulls and bones visible in the balconies and columns are his victims. A tower with a cross - the sword of St. George, the patron saint of Catalonia - pierces the body of the dragon, symbolizing the victory of the forces of Light over Darkness.

Park Guell (cat. Parc Guell)

Park Güell in Barcelona was created between 1900 and 1914 and was a combination of residential areas and gardens. From a commercial point of view, this project was a failure because the Catalans did not want to live in the hills. But nowadays Park Güell is one of the brightest attractions of Barcelona. The central entrance to the park is decorated with two pavilions that look like huge gingerbread houses, and on the upper terrace there is a giant bench in the shape of a sea serpent. Gaudi chose this Park to live in and owned one of the houses.

(cat. Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia)

With the birth of Antonio Gaudi, the architecture of the whole world was enriched with many works, but the most outstanding was the Sagrada Familia. Gaudi began work on this cathedral in Barcelona in 1883, but did not have time to finish it. In this structure, as in many others, the architect reflected what he saw in living nature. A forest of columns with capitals in the form of branches, intertwining, create the arch of the building, and each tower and stained glass window tells its own biblical story.
According to Gaudi's plan, the cathedral was supposed to have 3 facades depicting the life of Christ (Birth, Passion and Resurrection). It was also planned to install 12 towers symbolizing the apostles, 4 higher towers dedicated to the evangelists, the tower of the Virgin Mary and the highest - 170 m, which was intended for Christ. The God-fearing Catalan did not want the temple to be higher than the Montjuic hill (171 m), because the mountain is the creation of God, and the building is man’s.

Gaudí's architecture was far ahead of its time. During the construction of the Temple, Antonio Gaudi based the columns, vaults and other details on complex three-dimensional shapes, which can now only be recreated using computer modeling. And the architect developed them only with the help of his imagination and intuition.

It is curious that the temple is being built exclusively on anonymous donations from parishioners. When this structure is completed (expected to happen by 2026), it will become the tallest church in the world.

Antonio Gaudi was extremely extravagant and stubborn. This is probably why quite funny incidents arose with him.
Despite the fact that Gaudí rarely had conflicts with male customers, disputes with their wives were not uncommon. The owner of the Batlo house was upset with the way the construction of their home was being carried out. She noticed that due to the oval shape of the room in the music salon, it would be impossible to place her daughter’s piano. Gaudi ignored tactfully made comments and left everything unchanged. The angry woman spoke harshly to the architect, but he, without embarrassment, said: the piano won’t fit, buy a violin.

Gaudí and his father were vegetarians and were committed to clean water and fresh air. At the same time, Antonio, like a true Christian, showed moderation in food. For lunch, he, a rather large man, ate only lettuce leaves, dipped in milk, and a handful of nuts.
Gaudi loved Catalonia dearly and dreamed of enriching its culture. One day, the police mistook an unkemptly dressed architect for a tramp and stopped him. They asked him several questions in Castilian, but he answered them in Catalan. At this time, there was a fight against “Catalan nationalism”, and Gaudí was threatened with prison. Having finally realized that they were dealing with an architect who was already well-known at that time, they wanted to hush up the matter, but he continued to chat carefreely in his native language. That's why he spent 4 hours in the police station.
Gaudi's construction costs were enormous. When the architect, in addition to the main bill, presented the Mila family with an invoice for overtime work, the couple refused to pay. The architect went to court, and the decision was made in his favor. The Mila family had to take out a mortgage on the house they built to pay the bill. Gaudi gave the money to one of the convents.
More scandalous things are also attributed to the architect: it is believed that for the scene of the beating of infants he made casts of stillborn children, and in order to accurately repeat the contours of the animals, he euthanized them with chloroform before applying plaster.

Personal life

The great architect Gaudi spent his entire life alone. In his youth, he dressed very flashily and attracted the attention of women. However, having learned about his profession, which at that time was considered akin to an artisan, they lost interest in him. Women were concerned about the well-being of the groom, and the work of an architect did not guarantee financial stability.
Antonio's first love was the beautiful Josepha Moreu, funny nicknamed Pepeta. In 1884, this wayward woman worked as a teacher at the Mataro cooperative school. Gaudí carried out orders for this enterprise and often visited Pepeta and her sister.
Pepeta gladly accepted the advances of the young, educated architect. Together they visited the Güell drawing room, where all the intellectuals of Barcelona gathered once a week. But at the same time, she kept the inexperienced gentleman at a distance. Finally, Antonio proposed to her. And he was taken aback: Pepeta announced that she was already engaged to a successful timber merchant.
Gaudi never proposed to another girl. Years later, he fell in love again with a woman, a young American. But their relationship ended when she returned to the States.

Death

Throughout his life, Gaudi loved to walk around Barcelona. But if in his youth he looked good and dressed elegantly, then in the middle of his life he stopped paying attention to his appearance and resembled a beggar.
On June 7, 1926, he left the house to take his usual walk to the temple of Sant Felip Neri. At this time he was already 73 years old, and the architect visited this church every day. While he was walking absentmindedly between the streets of Girona and Bailén, he was hit by a tram. Antonio lost consciousness.
The unkempt appearance of the tramp led people astray. The cab drivers did not want to take him to the medical department, fearing that they would not receive money. In the end, the great architect was taken to a hospital for the poor, where he received the most primitive care. Only on July 8th was he identified by the chaplain of the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, but any treatment was already useless.
On June 10, 1926, the genius died. They buried him in the crypt of the temple, which he did not have time to complete.

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 excelled at school without much effort. 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 a 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.

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)

Antonio's first independent work is recognized as a fountain in the central square of 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. The complex was originally planned to include residential buildings, a casino and other ancillary buildings, but ultimately only the factory and service buildings were completed.

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)

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.

Attention to the smallest details and the desire to maintain his work in a single style were already identified as a distinctive feature of Antoni Gaudi.

In 2005, the building was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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 of the 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 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 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 the magnate’s country estate. 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 a true Christian.

Its fundamental innovation was the 18 pointed towers, each of which had a special meaning. The central and highest among them (still unfinished) is dedicated to Christ.

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.

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)

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 client 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.

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)

The bishop of Astroga (province of Leon), Jean Batista Grau i Vallespinosa, was well acquainted 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.

The building's unique porch and entrance portico with recessed arches are the architect's find. In order to create the impression of “elongation” and unreality, to 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 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.

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)

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 are all united by a recognizable style, as well as a common 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.

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 graceful 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 to 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 Gaudí 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.

By the way, the residents of Barcelona did not immediately like it, and the building was nicknamed the Quarry for its heavy appearance. 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 Gaudi 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.

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.

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).

The architecture of the center of Barcelona does not leave many indifferent; here you want to walk with your head held high to enjoy the beauty of the buildings built in the Art Nouveau style. Incredibly, it is impossible to find two identical houses in the center of Barcelona! No matter how harmonious the architectural style of this city may look, completely dissimilar architectural masterpieces coexist here with incredible success. Despite the abundance of talented architects in the Art Nouveau era in Barcelona, ​​the name of one literally became a symbol of the city. Of course, we are talking about a great genius or a madman - Antonio Gaudi: according to legend, upon receiving his diploma in 1878, Professor Gaudi said: “I don’t know, gentlemen, to whom we are presenting the diploma - a genius or a madman!” This dispute still reigns among fans and opponents of Gaudi. Despite this, Antoni Gaudi created more than two dozen buildings, houses, parks, cathedrals and decorative elements in Barcelona, ​​seven of which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Top 10 must-see Gaudi creations in Barcelona:

1. Sagrada Familia

The Sagrada Familia Cathedral is called “Gaudi’s dream”, since he knew that he would not have time to complete the construction during his lifetime, but being a very religious person, he considered this project his main creation in life. Unfortunately, after his death, Gaudi’s drawings for the construction of the cathedral were lost and they were restored through conversations with the architect’s inner circle. For more than a century, the cathedral has not been completed, the completion date is constantly being postponed, at the moment the estimated date is set for 2030, but of the 18 Sagrada Familia towers planned by Gaudí, only 8 have been built. Interestingly, local authorities do not sponsor construction work and the cathedral is being built on own funds raised through entrance tickets and donations. However, despite its unfinished appearance, the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is the most visited attraction along with the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The Sagrada Familia Cathedral is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

2. Casa Batllo

Casa Batllo

Casa Batlló in Barcelona is a residential building on the central street of Barcelona, ​​Passeig de Gràcia, rebuilt by the architect Gaudí in 1904 - 1906 for the textile magnate Josep Batlló i Casanovas. The uniqueness of this building lies in the complete absence of straight lines; wavy lines appear both in the external decor and in the interior decoration of the house. There are many interpretations of the mysterious appearance of the main façade, but the most common interpretation is the legend about the figure of a giant dragon, which Saint George, the patron saint of Catalonia, defeated in order to save the beautiful princess. The House of Ballier is called the “house of bones”, as the columns and balconies on the main facade are interpreted as the bones and skulls of girls eaten by a dragon, according to legend.

3. House Mila

Another residential building built for the seven Mila Passeig de Gràcia in 1906-1910 in Barcelona. The design of Casa Mila was innovative for its time: the building is a reinforced concrete structure with load-bearing columns without load-bearing or supporting walls; a natural ventilation system has been thought out here, which makes it possible today to refuse air conditioning in hot Catalan weather; There are elevator shafts and an underground garage. Casa Mila was Gaudí's last secular work before he devoted himself entirely to the Sagrada Familia and the first 20th-century piece of architecture to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

4. Palace Güell

One of Gaudí's early works for an admirer of his talent and friend, the Catalan industrialist Eusebi Güell. Palace Güell from the outside resembles a Venetian palazzo, but inside you can see traditional Gaudi elements: a combination of Art Nouveau and Gothic styles, wavy lines, chimneys on the roofs made in different shapes and decorated with mosaics. Palais Güell is Gaudí's only building in the old town of Barcelona and is located on Carrer Nou de la Rambla. In 1984, the palace was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

5. Park Güell

The most famous park in Barcelona is in the Gràcia district, created by Gaudi from 1900 to 1914. Initially, Park Güell was conceived as a purely investment project, for which Eusebi Güell acquired 15 hectares of land, which were divided into 62 plots for the construction of private mansions inside a common garden, but only 2 plots were sold: the distance from the center of Barcelona did not attract the local bourgeoisie. On the territory of the park there is the house of Gaudi himself, where he lived from 1906 to 1925, and the Güell mansion, as well as the hallmark of the park - the famous winding bench.

6. House of Vicens

House Vincennes

Vincennes House (Casa Vicens) is one of the first buildings of Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona, ​​the house was designed in 1878 at the same time the young architect received his diploma. Casa Vicens was built for the family of Manuel Vicens, a brick and ceramic tile manufacturer, so the decoration of the main façade of the building is a tribute to the activities of the owner.

7. House Calvet

Casa Calvet

House Calvet (Casa Calvet) is another famous private residential building, built for the widow of the textile manufacturer Pere Martir Calvet i Carbonel in 1898-1900 by the architect Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona. Casa Calvet was originally planned as an apartment building: the lower floor was allocated for retail space, the mezzanine for apartments for homeowners, and the upper floors for rentals. It is interesting that it was for the construction of this house, and not for other Gaudí houses in Barcelona, ​​that the architect received the Barcelona Municipal Prize for the best building of the year in 1900. There are no Gothic or medieval allusions here; the building is decorated in the Baroque style.

8. Bellesguard or House of Figueres

House Figueres

House Figueres

House Fingares, or Bellesguard as it is commonly known, was built between 1900 and 1916 for the widow of a food merchant, Maria Sages. Built on the slope of Mount Tibidabo, the mansion resembles a castle. The fact is that the architect was inspired by the story that the summer residence of Martí the Human, the last king of Catalonia, was once located here.

9. St Teresa's College

St Teresa's College

The school at the monastery of Saint Teresa is a recognized decoration of Barcelona, ​​but its construction was not an easy task for the architect. Given the severely limited budget adopted by the Order, whose motto was asceticism and frugality, it was necessary to abandon most decorative delights and follow Gothic traditions.

10. Lanterns on the Royal Square of Barcelona

The lanterns on the Royal Square in Barcelona are the first and perhaps the only state commission of Gaudi in Barcelona.