You can’t visit Barcelona and not get a glimpse of the works of Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926), the city’s famous architect who defied conventional design but now defines Barcelona’s modernist architecture. Gaudi and his works have become entwined to Barcelona’s identity and inspired cults said to be bigger than Picasso’s.  When I first visited Barcelona in the 1990’s,  my impression of Gaudi’s works was “eclectic, whimsy, fun.” I appreciated them on a surface but never really comprehended them. During the recent trip, I  revisited some of his architectural landmarks with Keith and together we gained deeper understanding and appreciation of his works.

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LA SAGRADA FAMILIA

The enormous Basilica of La Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) is Gaudi’s most famous work. Its design described as “neo-gothic-but-not-really” was criticized as not appropriate for a basilica, but today it draws praise and the most number of visitors among monuments throughout Spain. La Sagrada  Familia and six other works of Gaudi have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The enormity of the project and dependence on donated funds made the construction of  La Sagrada Famila really slow. It was started in 1882 and still is under construction.  The projected completion date keeps changing, but the recent projection is 2026.

Gaudi’s designs at first glance may look eclectic, but we learned that if you look closer you find that his designs are actually inspired by nature and full of organic elements. The nave in La Sagrada Familia are dominated by columns that imitate tree-trunks and the patterns of plant growth giving a sense of being under a canopy of magnificent forest.  

Design embellishments inspired by shapes of flowers, fruits, seashells and other natural forms can be seen throughout the buildings. Gaudi’s design also allows a generous flow of natural light into the building.

 “Nothing in the world has been invented. The act of inventing consists in seeing what God has placed before the eyes of all humanity.” – Gaudi

Aside from love of nature, Gaudi was also inspired by his deep passion for religion in designing La Sagrada Familia. The façades of the church depict the life of Christ.

“A church is the only thing worthy of representing the feelings of a people, for religion is the highest thing in people.” Gaudí

The view of La Sagrada Familia from the rooftop of Casa Mila, another one of Gaudi’s masterpiece.

 

CASA BATTLO

One of Gaudi’s masterpieces is Casa Battlo, a house he restored for a wealthy Gattlo family in the early 1900’s.  Its facade is a joyful spectacle full of fantasy, organic elements, symbols and colors.

The balconies are designed in shape of a mask.

The pillars that surround the lower windows are shaped like bones giving the house a nickname “A house of bone.”  The green and blue mosaics are reminiscent of the ocean.

The interior of the house was designed to give a sense of being under the ocean. The shape of the windows and doos are inspired by waves and the stained glass design are inspired colorful corals and other marine life.

The ceiling and scone represents whirlpool as seen from under the sea.

Gaudí designed this central lightwell to give a sense of being in the depth of the sea looking up into the light.

Some of marine allusions on the wall.

These cantenary archways in the attics seem to evoke a  rib cage of a whale. Or is it a ribcage of the dragon in the rooftop?

The colorful scaled structure in the roof evokes a skin of reptile.  It is said to represent a dragon’s back.

The turrets with a cross is said to represent a sword of St. George (patron saint of Catalan) piercing the dragon’s back.

 

 The claws of the dragon function as chimneys of the building.

CASA MILA (also known as CASA PEDRERA)

Impressed with Casa Gatlo, wealthy businessman Pedro Mila commissiond Gaudi to design this apartment building. It is the second most visited Gaudi building next to La Sagrada Familia.

The web-like gate of Casa Mila.

Casa Mila is said to be an ode to organic, expressionistic architecture. It does not contain a  single line. Its design is ahead of its time. Gaudi did not use conventional weight bearing walls in this construction, instead he used steel, arches and pillars to form circular design.

 

 Gaudi designed the arches in Casa Mila based on this upside down model he created.

The playful design of the roof of Casa Mila features chimneys that twist in surrealistic forms.

These chimneys in Casa Mila were said to inspire George Lucas during his visit to Barcelona in the 1970’s to design the stormtrooper helmets in Star Wars movie.

 

PARC GUELL

Catalan industrialist Eusebio Guell commission Gaudi in 1900 to design a private park as part of the residential garden village project for Barcelona’s elite.  The housing project failed and the colorful, fanciful park eventually opened to the public in 1922.

The colorful tiled lizard that greet the visitors at the entrance of the park.

The pavilion with its beautiful columns and colorful tiled ceiling. The columns do not only serve as ornaments and foundation, they also function as drainage for the plaza above it.

The pavilion’s rooftop serves as the main plaza of the park and is surrounded with serpent-like bench accentuated with colorful mosaic tiles.

Apparently, the ergonomic bench is also designed for good napping.

The colorful benches and the turret with a cross.

Enjoying the whimsical park with a beautiful vista of the city.

The panorama of Barcelona from Parc Guell. La Sagrada familia can be seen on the left.

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