The world-famous Catalan architect Antonio Gaudí (1852-1926) managed to create 18 masterpieces, which for many decades have been considered the pinnacle of an innovative and unique style. Until now, some people consider his fantastic constructions to be brilliant, while others just think they are crazy. The main part of these works is located in the native master of Barcelona, ​​​​which became not only his home, but also a kind of strange laboratory in which Gaudi conducted amazing architectural experiments.


Although it is generally accepted that the Spanish architect worked in the Art Nouveau style, it is impossible to fit his projects into the framework of any current at all. He lived and worked according to the rules understandable only to him, adhering to incomprehensible laws, therefore it is better to classify all the work of the master as “Gaudi style”.

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

1. House of Vicens (1883-1885), the first project of Antonio Gaudí


Residence Vicens (Casa Vicens), the first independent creation of the architect, was commissioned by the wealthy industrialist Manuel Vicens (Manuel Vicens). The house is still the main decoration of Carrer de les Carolines Street, being considered the brightest and most unusual landmark of Barcelona, ​​which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.


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


Since Gaudí was a follower natural motives and drew a source of inspiration from them, then every element of this unusual house was a reflection of his preferences.


Floral motifs are present everywhere, from the wrought-iron fencing, as well as the facade itself, to the interior. The most favorite image of the creator was yellow marigolds and palm leaves.


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


2. Pavilions and Guell's estate (Pavellons Guell)


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


Fulfilling the order of the count, the extraordinary architect not only carried out a complete reconstruction of the summer country estate with the beautification of the park and the creation of stables and a closed arena, but combined all these ordinary buildings so that they turned into a fabulous complex.


When creating these pavilions, Antonio was the first to use a special technology - trencadis, which consists in the fact that pieces of ceramics or glass are used when facing the facade. irregular shape. By lining the surfaces of all rooms with the same pattern in a special way, he achieved an amazing resemblance to dragon scales.

3. City residence Guell (Palau Guell)


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


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


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


The pediments and the rooftop terrace, which is designed for impressive walks, delight visitors with incredible views of the city and the "magic garden", created and amazing stove tubes.

4. Park Guell


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



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



Since an elite village was planned here, Gaudi created not only all the necessary communications, but also planned picturesque streets and squares. The most striking building was the 100 Columns Hall, which is reached by a special staircase, and on the roof there is a stunningly bright bench that completely envelops the contours of the complex.


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

5. Casa Batllo


Casa Batlló (1904-1906) resembles an ominous dragon figure, which is lined with mosaic scales and is able to change its color depending on the time of day. As soon as it is not called - "house of bones", "house-dragon", "yawning house".



And really, looking at its strange balconies, window bars, gables and a roof resembling a dragon's back will get rid of the impression that these are the remains of a huge monster!


Creating a fantastic patio, for the improvement and uniformity of illumination, he achieved a play of chiaroscuro, laying ceramic tiles in a special way - gradually turning from white to light blue and blue.


According to tradition, he decorated the roof of the house with his outlandish chimney towers.

6. House Mila - Pedrera (Casa Mila)


This is the last residential building that the great architect created. It is better known as "La Pedrera", which means "stone quarry" in translation. It is considered the most incredible residential building project not only in all of Barcelona, ​​but in the world.


Initially, this creation of the master was not accepted and considered it to be complete madness. Incredibly, Antonio and the owner of this building were even fined for non-compliance with existing urban planning standards.



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

7. Sagrada Familia (Temple Expiatori De La Sagrada Familia)


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


Its design is dominated by surreal gothic, the walls are decorated with images of saints and all sorts of creatures of God, from turtles, salamanders, snails and ending with a forest, starry sky and the entire universe.


The highest columns and unusual paintings adorn the interior of the temple (Temple Expiatori De La Sagrada Familia).

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

Thanks to extraordinary architects, unique buildings are being created in our time, which can also be considered pretentious forms.

The magical houses of Gaudí are located mainly in Barcelona, ​​since it was there that Antonio Gaudí lived and worked. Of course, not only Gaudí created modern Barcelona. The city knew many talented architects in a relatively short period of time, called the Catalan Renaissance. In addition to Gaudí's Barcelona, ​​there is also modern Barcelona, ​​Gothic Barcelona, ​​and the "Spanish Village" district, which embodies the styles of all Spanish provinces, and the famous Rambla - the area of ​​\u200b\u200bold Barcelona. But Gaudí's Barcelona is something special, incomparable. The thirteen objects (not always buildings) built by Gaudí in Barcelona give it its own character and charm and are an irresistible attraction for tourists.

At the beginning of Gaudi's independent work, his first, richly decorated, early modern projects were built:

"Stylistic twins" - elegant House of Vicens (Barcelona)

Quirky El Capricho (mood) (Comillas, Cantabria).

As well as the compromise pseudo-baroque Calvet House (Barcelona) - the only building recognized and loved by the townspeople during his lifetime (by the way, the house was built without a single load-bearing wall inside).

Gaudi was extremely unsociable and even closed. Even cruel to people. Gaudi never married. From childhood he suffered from rheumatism, which prevented games with other children, but did not interfere with long solitary walks, to which he was addicted all his life. He did not recognize luxury and wealth, he ate somehow and dressed somehow. when it came to him personally. But at the same time he built luxurious buildings. there were no records left of Gaudi, he had no close friends. And many circumstances of his life are still not clear. Kalvet's house inside:

Decisive for the flourishing of the young architect was his meeting with Eusebi Güell. Gaudí later became a friend of Güell. This textile magnate, the richest man in Catalonia, not alien to aesthetic insights, could afford to order any dream, and Gaudí got what every creator dreams of: freedom of expression without regard to estimates. Palace Güell:

A great architect who almost did not work with drawings, whose work is based on a scrupulous mathematical calculation, a subverter of authorities and a trendsetter who worked outside of established styles. His main tools were imagination, intuition and ... calculations in the mind. You could say he was an Einstein in architecture. Palace Güell, view from the roof:

Having gained financial "independence", Gaudí goes beyond the dominant historical styles within eclecticism 19th century, declaring war on the straight line and forever moving into the world of curved surfaces to form their own, unmistakably recognizable style.

Antonio Gaudí y Cornet was born on June 25, 1852 in the small town of Reus, near Tarragona, in Catalonia. He was the fifth, youngest, child in the family of boilermakers Francesc Gaudí y Serra and his wife Antonia Cornet y Bertrand. It was in the workshop of his father, according to the architect himself, that a sense of space awakened in him.

Gaudí's Barcelona is a fairy tale embodied in architecture. Onlookers crowd in front of his residential buildings. It is strange that people live in these houses-terems, and not fabulous creatures; that under these rearing roofs, behind these curved facades with swollen balconies, everyday life goes on. It is even more difficult to imagine that every detail of this excessively lush decor carries not only an aesthetic, but also a functional load. That is, it was created not only to amaze the imagination: rich Barcelona residents are accustomed not only to luxury, but also to comfort.

With the completion of the palace, Antonio Gaudi ceased to be a nameless builder, quickly becoming the most fashionable architect in Barcelona, ​​soon turned into a "virtually unaffordable luxury." For the bourgeois of Barcelona, ​​he built houses one more unusual than the other: a space that is born and develops, expanding and moving like living matter.

Mosaic ceiling in the house:

Gaudí is a genius far ahead of his time. A phenomenon that defies explanation, let alone imitation. Unique, incomparable, inconceivable.

But his main creation, the pinnacle of his art and the outlet of his heart was the Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family (Sagrada Familia). In 1906, his father died, and six years later, his niece, who was in poor health, was his last close person. Gaudi completely closed himself, and made this temple his redemptive sacrifice. Imagine, all the money that he earned as an architect of the temple, Gaudí invested in the construction itself. For many years he worked for free, not considering himself in the right to appropriate the people's money - and the temple was built on donations from rich and poor people of Barcelona.

Gaudí did not hope to complete the Sagrada Familia during his lifetime. He dreamed of finishing the East Front of the Nativity so that the fruits of his efforts could be seen by his own generation. By this, he obliged future builders to continue work. He managed to finish the chapel, the apse (the semicircular part of the building), the section of the monastery, part of the vestibule<Розарий>and parochial school. The three bell towers of the Nativity façade were completed after his death. He left detailed drawings, 1:10 scale models, sketches of designs, so that his followers would not deviate from his plan. But to continue the construction was not easy: it required huge funds. During the civil war, it was decided to mothball it. Several times the Temple was under the threat of destruction.

The school was destroyed, Gaudí's workshop was ruined. The controversy over whether to continue or freeze the work was a logical consequence of the attitude of the authorities towards the work of the great Catalan. The work was either deployed in full front, then curtailed due to lack of funds. But then His Majesty the people intervened. Money continued to flow into the Temple Construction Fund. On average, construction requires three million dollars annually.

This year the Barcelona Jews donated five million. But even with a stable inflow of funds, construction is expected to take at least another 65 years, although no one can name the exact date. Could not name her and Gaudi. When asked when the Sagrada Familia would be completed, he answered: "My customer is in no hurry."

Now an arrow of a tower crane hung over the Temple. The interior is a huge construction site: concrete mixers, iron structures, reinforced concrete blocks, plaster decoration details, column capitals. The most advanced technologies and materials are used, which Gaudí did not know. Computer analysis confirms the accuracy of his calculations, which he tested with sandbags suspended from a mock-up. Skeptics doubt that the Sagrada Familia will ever be finished and that Gaudí's secret plan was to make its construction eternal.

Gaudi is considered to be a Catalan Art Nouveau. He is the brightest representative of it. But it does not fully fit into any architectural trend. With the same success, it can be attributed to the Moorish baroque, neoclassicism or neo-gothic. But he chose to arbitrarily mix all the architectural styles, creating his own eclecticism. What really distinguishes it from everyone else is the connection of architecture with nature.

Gaudi died when he was hit by the first tram at the foot of Mount Tibidabo. He was almost 74 years old. He probably could have survived, but the cab drivers refused to take the untidy, unknown old man to the hospital without money and documents, fearing non-payment for the trip. In the end, Gaudi was taken to a hospital for the poor, and no one could recognize the famous architect until his friends found him the next day. When they tried to transfer him to the best hospital, he refused with the words that "his place is here, among the poor." Gaudí died on the third day, June 10, 1926. In 1926, Antonio Gaudí, the greatest architect of the 20th century, whose creations now and forever defined the face of Barcelona, ​​was buried in the crypt of the unfinished cathedral.

Gaudi deifies nature. Its church spiers are topped with sheaves of cereals and ears of corn, the arches of the windows are crowned with baskets of fruit, bunches of grapes hang from the facades; drainpipes meander in the form of snakes and reptiles; chimneys are twisted with snails, grates are forged in the form of palm leaves. But Gaudi does something that no one has dared to do before him: he transfers the laws of nature to architecture. He managed to achieve a continuous fluidity of architectural forms, accessible only to living nature. It uses parabolic slabs and slanted tree columns. There is not a single straight line in his projects, just as there is none in nature.

Catalan Art Nouveau, the impetus for which was, in particular, Antonio Gaudi, arose on a powerful crest of national resistance. Catalonia has not always belonged to Spain. She became Spanish as a result of the royalist marriage of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile, the same one who sent Columbus on a journey and expelled the Jews from Spain. Over the next three centuries, Catalonia gradually lost its privileges and became more and more a Spanish province. Proud Catalans could not accept this. They strongly opposed the Spanish cultural expansion. The explosion of national consciousness affected all spheres of public life: music, literature, painting, sculpture, architecture, theater, language. In the end, the Catalans returned their language - Catalan and achieved autonomous control. Barcelona has become the most beautiful city in the country.

By the way, at the dawn of his activity, Gaudí was associated with workers' unions. The labor movement in industrial Catalonia, especially in the textile industry, was most acute. Gaudí's first major project was the creation of a workers' town in Montaro. Subsequently, Gaudi moved away from the labor movement, became a devout Catholic and hoisted Christian symbols not only on cathedrals and residential buildings, but also on purely utilitarian buildings.

Among residential buildings, Gaudí is especially famous apartment house, which went down in history under the name "Casa Mila". This house was popularly nicknamed "Pedrera" ("Kamenyuka"), "Aspen's Nest" or, even worse, "Meat Pie".

But if only this one of all modern buildings in the world were left in the world, it would embody modernity in its perfect form. This six-story undulating building wraps around the intersection of Grazia Boulevard and Provenza Street. Visitors are allowed in there, like in a museum.

Anticipating the flow of visitors, Gaudi turned the roof into a terrace and at the same time an observation deck. In the basement, he placed the stables - it was the prototype of the garage. He was the first to use a ramp (rise from floor to floor) for horses and carriages - this principle was later used in multi-level parking lots.

A few months after Gaudí's death, a young Japanese sculptor, Kenji Imai, visited Barcelona. He was so impressed by the Temple that he decided to create a cathedral in Nagasaki based on his study of Gaudí's work. Since then, the Japanese pilgrimage to Barcelona began.

There are a lot of tourists here from other countries 🙂

Magic houses of Gaudí inspire many people

Adapted from http://www.uadream.com/tourism/europe/Spain/element.php?ID=20873

Padres Escolapios. Due to the pain, Gaudi did not have many friends, the closest ones were Toda and Ribera. Together with them, he dreamed of rebuilding Poblet. Poor health made accessible to Antonio only one entertainment - walks, and he retained a passion for them all his life. Not being able to play with children, the young genius discovered the natural world, which became his inspiration in solving the most complex architectural problems.
While studying at school, Gaudí showed his artistic talent. He paints the backstage of the school theater. And in 1867, in the school weekly El Harlequin, which was published with a circulation of only 12 copies, several drawings of a genius were published. In 1968, the architect graduated from school.
From 1869 to 1874, Gaudi moved to Barcelona and took architectural preparatory courses at the University of Barcelona at the Faculty of Natural Sciences.
Learning and becoming
In 1870, it is planned to restore the monastery of Poblet, which Gaudí dreamed about so much. The architect designed for the abbot a sketch of the coat of arms.
In 1873, Gaudí entered the Provincial School of Architecture in Barcelona. In 1876, the older brother and mother of the architect died. By the time of graduation from the school of architecture in 1877, great amount sketches and projects: a pier for ships, the Central Hospital of Barcelona, ​​the gates of the cemetery.
Until 1882, while Gaudí worked as a draftsman under Francisco Villar and Emilio Sala, he studied crafts, created furniture for his own home and did other small work. During this time, participation in competitions did not bring results.
In 1878, Gaudí was finally noticed, and he received the first public commission - a street lamp in Barcelona. Already in 1879 the project was implemented.
March 15, 1878 Gaudí becomes a certified architect. In the same year, an order was received from Esteve Comella for the design of a shop window for a glove shop. The result caught the attention of industrialist Eusebio Güell. The same period was marked by the work on the project of the village in Mataro for the workers' cooperative, it was even exhibited at the World Exhibition in Barcelona.
Gaudi pays attention to the study of old architectural monuments in the vicinity of Barcelona. The architect attends tours with the Catalan "Center for Tourists", members of the Catalan Association of Architects. At this time, the first major order for the construction of a mansion was received from Manuel Vicens y Montaner.
In 1879, Gaudi's sister, Rosita Gaudi de Egea, dies, leaving behind a daughter. The architect takes his niece to Barcelona. He himself was never married, and, according to contemporaries, due to an unsuccessful personal life in his old age, he became a misogynist. The master had no children.
Recognition and most significant buildings
In 1881, the only journalistic work of Gaudí was published in the newspaper La Renaixenca, it is dedicated to an exhibition of applied art. The project "Obrera Mataronense" - a workers' settlement - has been completed and is being printed at the Hepus printing house.
IN late XIX century, neo-Gothic style flourishes in Europe, and the architect is delighted with new ideas. The handwriting was strongly influenced by the work of Viollet-le-Duc, who restored Notre-Dame de Paris, and the English art historian John Ruskin.
With no less interest, Gaudí studied the architecture of Barcelona, ​​especially the neo-Gothic works of Joan Martorel. In 1882, they met, the genius has long been under the influence of the famous Spaniard. It was under the patronage of Martorel that Antonio Gaudí was approved in 1883 (November 3) as the architect of the Sagrada Familia (Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família), after the departure of Francisco del Villar. In parallel with this, the first project for Guell is being developed - the Hunting Pavilion near Sitges (Sitges).
In 1883, work began on the House of Vicens (Casa Vicens). In parallel, the construction of El Capriccho (Capricho de Gaudí) for Maximo Diaz de Quijano was carried out - this Vacation home in Comillas near Santander. The projects are considered stylistic twins and belong to early modern. hallmark each is a rich decor. Vicens' house turned out to be more elegant, El Capriccio - rather bizarre, which does not detract from its charms. The work was completed in 1888.
In 1884-1887, Gaudí designed and implemented the horse yard and the entrance gate to Les Corts - Güell's estate. The order has truly great importance and the results only confirm the desire of the industrialist to cooperate.
Convinced of Gaudi's talent, in 1886 Güell ordered him to build the Palace in Barcelona. It is the Palau Güell that brings the master fame among the bourgeoisie. He transforms from an ordinary builder into a fashionable architect who has become a symbol of "unaffordable luxury". Playing with space behaving like living matter impressed the customer. During the construction period, Gaudi traveled through Andalusia, and then Morocco, in the retinue of the Margrave of Comillas. Work on the Palau Güell was completed in 1889.
From 1887 to 1893, the master was involved in the construction of the Neo-Gothic Bishop's Palace in the city of Astorg in Castile. But the building remained unfinished until 1915, as the architect, due to disagreements with the chapter in 1893, refused to lead the project.
In parallel, in 1888-1889, Gaudí worked with the Gothic-serf project of the monastery school of St. Theresa in Barcelona. Approximately in the same period from 1891 to 1892, the House of Botines in Leon was built under his leadership.
Making time between visits to the construction site, the architect manages to visit Tangier and Malaga to get acquainted with the site, which was to be built for the Franciscan Mission. But the project remained unfulfilled.
In 1893, Bishop Juan Bautista Grau y Vallespinosa, who ordered Gaudí's palace in Astorga, died. The masters were invited to create a project for a tombstone and a hearse.
Contemporaries note that Gaudí was a zealous Catholic and strictly observed fasting. It was this reason, against the background of poor health, that caused a serious deterioration in the general condition. The recovery process was difficult and greatly influenced the inner world of the architect.
From 1895 to 1901, Gaudi erected many buildings for Eusebio Güell. For a long time his involvement in the outbuildings and wine cellars in Garraf remained unknown. It was believed that only his friend Francesc Berenguer y Mestres worked on them.
In 1898, Gaudi creates a project for the church of the Colonia Güell, but only the stair complex and the Crypt are erected. The building stood unfinished for a long time, and was completed only in 1917. At the same time, in 1898, the Pseudo-Baroque Casa Calvet was built in Barcelona for the industrialist Pere Martir Calvet y Carbonel. The house was completed in 1900 and received the municipal award as the best building of the year. This award was the only one during the life of Gaudi.
1900 was a significant year for the architect, and he designs a sculptural ensemble for the Catalan shrine - Montserrat Monastery. The hand of the master is visible in the design of the altar chapel.
All in the same 1900, an order was received from Maria Sages for the construction of a country house on the site of the royal residence of Marty I. An unusual solution was chosen for the project - a medieval castle. Since the construction was carried out on the shore mediterranean sea and on top of the hill, the house was named "Bellesguard", which translates as " beautiful view". The work was completed in 1909. At first glance, the building seems to be very simple, but in fact, Gaudí combined the surrounding landscape and a dead structure in it. The mixture of Mudéjar and Neo-Gothic echoes the House of Vicens and El Capriccio.
The year 1900 was truly eventful. Guell ordered Gaudi to create a huge park in Gracia, which at that time was a suburb of Barcelona. As conceived by the industrialist, it was supposed to be an English park, an outlet from industrialization, and at the same time a spontaneous romantic garden. The architect himself and his niece later settled on one of the plots. The grandiose work on Park Güell was completed in 1914, along with the design of the territory at the main entrance, alleys and a large terrace. However, Güell's ambitious plan to build a new green residential area failed to materialize.
Gaudí worked simultaneously on several projects at once. So, in 1901, an order was received from the manufacturer Miralles for the design of the walls of the estate and entrance gate. From 1903 to 1914, the architect led the reconstruction of the cathedral in Palma de Mallorca, creating an interior for it.
From 1904 to 1906, Gaudí reconstructed Casa Batlló in Barcelona. The textile magnate wanted to demolish the old building, but the architect preferred to keep the side walls, but put all his bizarre imagination into the facades and interior decoration. This is the first project that cannot be attributed to any particular architectural style. Together with the House of Batlo, Gaudí's unique style was born.
As mentioned earlier, in 1906 the architect moved to one of the houses of Parc Güell, but not because of vanity, the master was very modest, but because of his father's illness. Yet on October 29, 1906, Gaudí's father dies.
From 1906 to 1910, work was underway on the Casa Milà, another unusual project. The architect wanted to build a house similar to a living being, in which the space would not be static, but would develop and be reborn. Gaudi's idea was quite successful, although it was perceived with hostility by his contemporaries.
The fame of the Catalan architect went far beyond the borders of the country. In 1908, an order was received from New York for the construction of a hotel. But the work ended at the stage of drawing sketches, offering a bold and extraordinary solution. In parallel, Gaudi was designing a chapel at the School of St. Theresa, but the leadership of the educational institution rejected the project. Also in 1908, the construction of the Crypt of Colonia Güell, in Santa Coloma, was resumed.
All this time, since 1882, the construction of the Sagrada Familia has been going on. In 1909, the master decides to create a temporary school for the children of the parishioners of the temple. A feature of the structure was the abundance of curvilinear forms and the absence of partitions.
In 1910, under the auspices of the National Society fine arts held the only major lifetime exhibition in Paris, which presented a variety of projects by Gaudí.
In 1912, the niece of the architect, Rosa Egea y Gaudí, died in poor health, she was 36 years old. Died in 1914 close friend and colleague - Francesc Berenguer-i-Mestres. After a break, the construction of the Sagrada Familia was resumed.

On June 7, 1926, a lonely, unkempt old man, whom the great Gaudi turned into, fell under a tram on his way to a church service. Three days later, on June 10, the genius was gone. He is buried with honors in the unfinished Sagrada Familia, the project of his life, where you can see his grave and death mask.

The unique architectural appearance of the capital of Catalonia was magically influenced by the work of the great master Gaudi. Architect Antoni Gaudi i Cornet was born on June 25, 1852 in the city of Reus in the Catalan province of Tarragona. His parents were boilermakers, and the young genius often helped his father and grandfather, admiring the virtuoso work of their hands in the manufacture of copper products. In love with nature and observant, Antonio was attracted from childhood by the perfection of forms, the play of colors and lines. Love for everything natural found an outlet in the work of Gaudi - the master's favorite materials were stone, ceramics, wood and wrought iron.

In total, there are 18 buildings in the architectural heritage of Gaudi, most of them are located in Barcelona, ​​​​defining the entire look of the city. He was in love with this city, spoke Catalan and drew inexhaustible inspiration for creativity from the culture of his people. Among the most famous works Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona - House of Vicens, Terezian School, Bellesguard House, Guell Palace, Batllo House, Mila House (La Pedrera), Park Guell and, of course, the Sagrada Familia.

The mysterious symbol of the city - the Sagrada Familia

The temple is the "brand name" of Barcelona, ​​the universally recognized symbol of the city. Its majestic towers make a truly unforgettable impression, the building itself is full of secrets and encoded messages of Gaudí. But, perhaps, the main mystery of this masterpiece, which was conceived as a temple of atonement for sins, is its incompleteness.

The building was designed in the Gothic style, traces of it can be traced in the crypt and apse, but then the genius of improvisation changed the idea, experimenting with styles and creating his own unique architectural style. When creating the temple, Gaudi almost did not use drawings, he made sketches with his own hands, and therefore it took a lot of time to work. The architect worked on the Sagrada Familia for forty-three years without completing the construction. In 1926, he died when he was hit by a tram at the intersection of Gran Via and Bailen.

In 1936, Gaudí's workshops were burned down, and only 20 years later, work on the construction of the temple resumed, already in small pieces of photographs and sketches and, of course, without that magical improvisation that was inherent only to Gaudí. The construction of the cathedral continues to this day, steadily overcoming financial and other difficulties. Sagrada Familia, located in the heart of the city at 401 Mallorca Street, annually attracts thousands of tourists who, admiring the grandeur of Gaudí's project, are trying to unravel its mystery...

Batllo House (Casa Batllo) in Barcelona

Casa Batlló ("Batlo", "Batlio » ) - one of the many masterpieces of Antonio Gaudí, an elegant example of the Art Nouveau style, so common in Catalonia at the beginning of the 20th century. Casa Batlló was built in 1904–1906 at 43 Paseo de Gracia. Gaudí reconstructed the house using his form style: multi-colored and sparkling mosaics, curved lines, expressiveness of forms, bizarre balconies, a fantastic roof with fish scale tiles.

Local name at home - Casa dels ossos ("House of Bones"). It really recognizes the images of the bones and internal organs of some gigantic mysterious animal. The roof of the house is covered with arches, which creates associations with the back of a dragon. According to the generally accepted opinion, a rounded detail to the left of the center, ending in a turret with a cross, represents the sword of George the Victorious (Saint George is the patron saint of Catalonia), stuck into the dragon's back.

House Mila (Casa Mila, La Pedrera)

Casa Mila in Barcelona is one of the best examples architectural concept of Antonio Gaudí. To some, its facade resembles incoming waves, and to some, a stone mountain with caves. The Barcelona people jokingly call it “La Pedrera” (“The Quarry”).

Gaudí, working on the construction of this house on the corner of the busy Passeig de Gracia and Provence, as usual, drew inspiration from nature. The concept of modernity here is something alive, fluid, moving, you can distinguish between caves, the sea, undersea world. The view from the roof of Barcelona is just as amazing, there are no protective railings, and the gardens and mysterious figures seem to hang over the abyss.

In 1984, Mila's house was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and today the museum dedicated to Antoni Gaudí is located on the top floor, the rest of the floors are given over to luxury housing.

Park Guell


Another famous Gaudí project is Park Güell, located behind Lesseps Square, on Olot Street. The park was built from 1900 to 1914, but, unfortunately, like the Sagrada Familia, it was not completed.

The park, a joint project of Gaudi and businessman Güell, was a quite promising idea: on the slope of one of the hills of the Barcelona plain, it was planned to build a green town for the rest of wealthy citizens. However, the economic crisis struck, and construction had to be frozen. Gaudi managed to only partially realize his dreams - one wall of the proposed park was built.

At the entrance to the park you are greeted by two cozy "gingerbread" houses, made according to the example of fortress towers, separated by spectacular iron gates (Gaudi himself later settled in one of these houses). A staircase leads up, decorated with sculptures of phantasmagoric animals covered with mosaics, among them is the characteristic Gaudi lizard, a symbol of good luck and prosperity, found in almost every work of the master. The staircase leads to the spacious “Hall of a Hundred Columns”, the highlight of which is that the roof is at the same time a winding balcony, and the cornice of the colonnade is the back of a continuous bench that borders the entire upper area. From here you have one of the best views of the city.

Park Guell is considered one of the works of Gaudi, where his imagination was most manifested. In the house where the architect lived in 1906-1926, a museum named after him is now open.

House Vicens (Casa Vicens)

One of the first works of Antonio Gaudí is the Vicens House, which is located at 18–24 Carolinas Street. In 1878, a young entrepreneur, Manuel Vicens, ordered the construction of his house by the then novice architect Antonio Gaudí. For reasons beyond his control, construction was delayed for 5 years, and this was a salvation for the young Gaudi, who simply did not know how to design a house: the construction site was rather narrow, and it was necessary to build in a row of almost "lapped" to each other buildings.

As a result, Gaudí's imagination could not run wild, the house was built very simply, without frills and crooked lines. To revive the image, the architect decided to decorate the facade of the building using numerous bay windows and tiled decor. The base of the natural stone walls was complemented by raw brick finishes. However, the main attraction of the house was given by the colorful tiled decoration of the walls and windows and the crazy mixture of styles: Gaudí used the techniques of different traditions, combining the incompatible, sculpting yellow flowers from tiles, installing Moorish turrets on the roof and decorating the garden with an art nouveau wrought-iron fence. The result is a wonderful example of modernism and evidence of the eternal genius of Antonio Gaudí.

If you are going to Barcelona, ​​be sure to visit these sights, the priceless heritage of Antonio Gaudi. Contact byphones Center for services for business and life in Spain "Spain in Russian" and we will help organize interesting individual or group excursions tothe unforgettable creations of Antonio Gaudí.

The symbol of Barcelona is the Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family, the Sagrada Familia (Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia) - the most famous brainchild (Antonio Gaudi) and at the same time,. Now the temple is still unfinished, and digital artists compete in skill, creating different versions 3D visualizations of the future building - one more spectacular than the other! The first architect who undertook the construction of this temple was Francisco del Villar, and not, as many believe. Interestingly, the construction of the temple was carried out only at the expense of donations from the townspeople.

Gaudí devoted 42 years of his life to the creation of the temple. According to his idea, the church should have 18 towers. The highest (170 meters), located in the center of the ensemble, is designed to personify Christ. The drawings left after Gaudi were burned by the Francoists in 1936 - another fact that slows down the construction process. In 2010, the unfinished temple was consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI and officially opened for worship. According to the latest data, the Spanish government expects to complete construction by 2026.

About personal

Architect Antonio Gaudí (1852-1926)

In his youth, a dandy, a lover of kid gloves and black silk cylinders, Gaudi was very popular with women, while remaining a bachelor all his life. There are few details: it seems that in the 1880s, while still a rather young architect, he showed signs of attention to a certain Josepha Moreu (nicknamed Pepeta), who worked as a teacher in a workers' cooperative of weavers. But she did not reciprocate the lover. There is another story that tells how a young stranger, who was seriously infatuated with Gaudi, at the last moment refused him courtship and went to a monastery, which prompted the architect to abandon the idea of ​​marriage forever.

About hometown

Reus is the hometown of Antoni Gaudí.

Antonio Gaudi was not born in Barcelona, ​​but in the town of Reus, which is an hour's drive from the Catalan capital. His father Francisco Gaudí y Serra was a boilermaker. Antonio was the fifth, most youngest child in family. From childhood memories, it is known that the architect suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, so outdoor games with peers were practically inaccessible to him. Gaudi spent a lot of time on the farm, walked a lot alone, watched nature. Gaudí moved to Barcelona at the age of 16. He entered the Higher School of Architecture, which later became a department of the University of Barcelona.

About my favorite client

Park Guell in Barcelona.

Perhaps the most fateful in the career of an architect was the meeting with Eusebio Guell (Eusebio Güell). The textile magnate, the richest man in Catalonia, becomes his close friend and customer. It was by order of this family that the architect creates projects for the pavilions of the estate in Pedralbes, the wine cellars in Garraf, the chapel and crypt of the Colonia Guell (Santa Coloma de Cervelho), Park Guell in Barcelona.

To date, there are amusing testimonies, including contractors, describing some of the details of the construction. For example, from the history of Park Güell it is known how the famous snake-shaped mosaic bench appeared. To get the right shape, Gaudi asked the workers to take turns sitting on fresh cement, almost taking off their pants! Thus, he expected to get a seat that is ideal in all respects.

Bench in Park Güell.

About the ill-fated tram

The ill-fated Barcelona tram

It is known that Gaudi almost did not use any transport, he always moved on foot, up to last day making long walks to the sea. One day, 73-year-old Gaudi left the house to the church of Sant Felip Neri, of which he was a parishioner - this was his usual route. Passing along the Gran Via de las Cortes Catalanes between Girona and Bailen streets, he was hit by a tram and lost consciousness. They say that the movement of trams in Barcelona was launched on this very day. The law enforcement officers did not recognize the famous architect in the victim and took him to the hospital for the poor, where he died on June 10.

about casa vicens

The first house built by Gaudí in Barcelona is Casa Vicens.

And for those who are planning a trip to Spain in the near future, it will be interesting to know that the first house built by Gaudí in Barcelona, ​​Casa Vicens, has recently been opened to the public. The architect designed it by order of the broker Manel Visan Montaner in 1883, the construction was completed by 1885. Recently, a large-scale restoration was carried out in it, which was supervised by a whole galaxy of architects (Jose Antonio, Martinez Lapeña, Elias Torres, David Garcia).

SAINT GAUDI?

From fun facts one cannot remain silent about the campaign that has been going on for about ten years in support of Gaudí's canonization. It was expected that in 2015 the Pope would sign the instrument of beatification. Will Antoni Gaudí become the patron saint of all architects? The question remains open.