Gaudí's creation: Casa Batllo in Barcelona (30 photos). Seven Wonders of Antoni Gaudí Gaudí Buildings

In the 70s of the 19th century, the young Gaudí moved to Barcelona. After 5 years of preparatory courses, Gaudí was admitted to the Provincial School of Architecture, from which he graduated in 1878.

In 1870-1882, Antoni Gaudí worked as a draftsman, unsuccessfully participating in competitions. He studied crafts, doing many small jobs (fences, lanterns, etc.), designing furniture for his own home.

At this time, an extraordinary flowering of neo-Gothic style began in Europe, and the young Gaudí enthusiastically followed advanced ideas. The declaration “Decorativeness is the beginning of architecture” proclaimed by the followers of the Neo-Gothic completely coincided with the ideas of Gaudi, who over time developed his own, completely unique architectural style.

Gaudí architecture

At the beginning of Gaudi's work, being influenced by the architecture of Barcelona and the architect Martorel, he builds his first buildings, richly decorated: "stylistic twins" - the elegant House of Vicens () and the quaint El Capriccio (Comillas, Cantabria); also the compromise Calvet House (Barcelona) in pseudo-baroque style. At the same time, Gaudí is making a project in a restrained Gothic, even “serf” style - the School at the Monastery of St. Teresa (), as well as an unrealized project for the buildings of the Franciscan Mission in Tangier; Neo-Gothic episcopal palace in Astorga (Castilla, Leon) and Dom Botines (Leon).

A decisive role in the implementation of Gaudí was played by the architect's meeting with Eusebi Güell, with whom he became friends. This textile magnate, the richest man, not alien to aesthetic insights, could afford to order any dream, and Gaudi got what every creator dreams of: freedom of expression without regard to estimates.

Gaudí designs the pavilions of the estate in Pedralbes near Barcelona for the Guell family; wine cellars in Garrafa, chapels and crypts of Colonia Güell (Santa Coloma de Cervello); fantastic().

Over time, Gaudi developed his own style, where there was not a single straight line. The construction of the Palau Güell turned Gaudí into Barcelona's most fashionable architect, soon becoming "an almost 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 - the House of Mila; a living quivering creature, the fruit of a bizarre fantasy - Casa Batlló.

Customers, ready to throw half a fortune on the construction, initially believed in the genius of an architect who paves a new path in architecture.

Death of Gaudí

Gaudí died at the age of 73. On June 7, 1926, he left the house, setting off on his daily journey to the church of Sant Felip Neri, of which he was a parishioner. While walking absentmindedly along Gran Via de las Cortes Catalanes between Girona and Bailen streets, he was hit by a tram and Gaudí lost consciousness.

The cab drivers refused to take an untidy, unknown old man without money and documents to the hospital, fearing non-payment for the trip. Still, Gaudi was taken to a hospital for the poor, where he was given only primitive medical care. Only the next day he was found and identified by the chaplain. By that time, Gaudí's condition had already deteriorated so much that the best treatment could not help him.

Gaudí died on June 10, 1926 and was buried two days later in the crypt of the unfinished cathedral.

Gaudí architecture in Barcelona:

Casa Batlló y Casa Novas

Casa Batlló(cat. Casa Batlló), also called "House of Bones"- a residential building built in 1877 for the textile magnate Josep Batllo y Casanovas at , 43 in the district, and rebuilt by the architect Antoni Gaudí in 1904-1906.

Before finishing the construction work, Gaudi received an order to remake an apartment building owned by the family of a wealthy textile manufacturer, Josep Batllo y Casanovas, and located next to the modernist house of Amalie. The owner of the house intended to demolish the old building of 1875 and build a new one in its place, but Gaudí decided otherwise.

Architecture of Casa Batlló

Gaudi retained the original structure of the house, adjacent to the side walls of two neighboring buildings, but designed two new facades, the main one from the side, and the back one - inside the block. In addition, Gaudi completely redesigned the ground floor and the mezzanine, making the original furniture, and adding a basement floor, attic and asotea (stepped roof terrace). Two light shafts were combined into a single courtyard, which improved daylight and ventilation of the building. The idea of ​​attaching special significance to the light court, first realized in Casa Batlló, was used by Gaudi during the construction Houses of Mila.

Many researchers of Gaudí's work recognize that the reconstruction of Casa Batllo is the beginning of a new creative stage for the master: from this project, Gaudí's architectural projects will be based on his own vision, without regard to accepted norms and styles.

Features of Casa Batlló

A distinctive feature of the Casa Batlló is the almost complete absence of straight lines in its architecture. The decoration of the façade is made of hewn stone, quarried on Barcelona's Montjuïc hill, as well as the interior design - everything is done on the basis of wavy lines. The appearance of the facade is interpreted in very different ways, but in general they agree that the main facade is an allegory for the dragon - Gaudí's favorite character, whose image was used in many of his creations. The victory of the patron saint of Catalonia, St. George, over the dragon may be an allegory for the victory of good over evil. The sword of St. George, thrust into the "backbone of the dragon", is presented in the form of a turret topped with a St. George's cross, the facade of the building depicts the sparkling "scales" of the monster and is littered with the bones and "skulls" of its victims, which are guessed in the forms of the mezzanine columns and balconies.

As is characteristic of Gaudí, every detail in the Casa Batlló is carefully thought out. Pay attention to the design of the light palace, where Gaudí created a special play of chiaroscuro. To achieve uniform lighting, the architect gradually changes the color of the ceramic cladding from white to blue and blue, deepening it as it goes from bottom to top, creating a real splash of azure in the finishes of chimneys and ventilation pipes. For the same, the size of the windows overlooking the patio also changes, which gradually decrease with height. The elegant attic of the house is based on the parabolic arches used by Gaudi and other projects.

Decor of Casa Batlló

All home decor is made by the best craftsmen. The forged elements were made by blacksmiths, the Badia brothers, the stained-glass windows were made by the glass blower Josep Pelegri, the tiles were made by P. Pujol-i-Bausis son, other ceramic details were made by Sebastian-i-Ribo. The cladding of the main façade was entirely made in Manacor (Mallorca). The furniture created by Gaudí during the interior design is now included in the collection in Park Guell.

Casa Batllo, together with the House of Amalle and the House of Lleo Morera, is part of "Quarter of Disagreement", so named because of the stylistic heterogeneity of the modernist buildings that form it.

In 1962, Casa Batllo was declared an Artistic Monument of Barcelona, ​​in 1969 - a monument of national importance, in 2005 it was included in the list.

Visit Casa Batlló in Barcelona:

• Website: www.casabatllo.es
• Opening hours: daily 9 - 19 (last entry at 20:00)
• Directions: 7, 16, 17, 22, 24 and 28. Barcelona Tourist Bus (North & South) stop Casa Batlló – Fundació Antoni Tàpies.| Barcelona Tourist Bus (North & South) stop Casa Batlló – Fundació Antoni Tàpies.| Metro: Station Passeig de Gràcia: L2, L3 and L4.
• Audio guide - included in the ticket price. There is in Russian.
• Entrance:
  • adults: 21.5€
  • students and pensioners > 65 years old: 18.5€
  • 7 - 18 years old: 18.5€
  • children under 7 years old - free of charge
  • Night visit (21:00) - 29€

House Mila

On the corner with Carrèr de Provence (Provence St.) stands the main boulevard - Mila's house(Casa Milà, Provença, 261-265, Passeig de Gratia, 92). This building by Antoni Gaudí is more like a piece of sculpture than a piece of architecture.

Architecture of the House of Mila

The six-story house looks like a huge rock, its window and door openings resemble grottoes, the wrought-iron balcony railings are made in the form of fantastic plants. The house is often called La Pedrera, meaning "The Quarry". Gaudi erected it in 1906-1910. for the richest Mila family; the owners' living quarters, an office were located here, and some of the apartments were rented out. Now, in addition to the bank CaixadeCatalunya, who allocated funds for the restoration of the building, the house houses the Gaudí Museum.

In one of the apartments there is a kind of museum of life of the Art Nouveau era; note that there are no straight lines here! You can also climb up to the fantastic rooftop, where giant multicolored chimneys resemble medieval knights. It was on this roof that the shooting of M. Antonioni's famous film "Profession: Reporter" took place.

Religious motifs in the architecture of Gaudí

The house was built on the site of the temple of the Virgin Mary of the 11th century, and therefore its entire appearance is permeated with religious motifs. The building was to be crowned by a colossal figure of the Madonna (12 m) with angels - the entire building of Mila's house would then be perceived as her grandiose pedestal. However, the Madonna was never installed because of the anti-church riots of the Tragic Week of 1909, when the crowd smashed and burned churches and monasteries. Religious symbols are present in all the buildings of Gaudí; “silent wave of the blue mountain” (as the English art critic D. Ruskin called Mila’s house) was supposed to capture the “soul of Catalonia2 and remind monastery of Montserrat.

But it must be remembered that Gaudi intended to somewhat soften the impression of the harsh power of this house - the residents had to decorate their balconies with creeping and hanging flowers, cacti, palm trees, thereby complementing the architecture and sculpture with living vegetation. The most important role in the construction of the Mila House was played by Gaudí's permanent assistant J. Jujol, who designed the wrought-iron grilles of the building's balconies.

Visit Casa Mila in Barcelona:

• House Mila - on the list
• Address: Provença, 261-265, Barcelona
• www.lapedrera.com
• Directions: metro: L3 and L5 stop Diagonal.| buses: 7, 16, 17, 22, 24, 39 and V17.| FGC trains: Provença station.| Barcelona Bus Turistic: stop Pg. de Gracia-La Pedrera.
• Working hours:
• November - February: La Pedrera in the afternoon: daily 9 - 18:30, last admission 18 hours. The Secret Pedrera: Wednesday - Saturday 19 - 22:30, choice of tours and languages.
• March - October: La Pedrera by Day: hedgehog. 9 - 20, last entrance 19:30. The Secret Pedrera: hedgehog 20:30 - 0:00, choice of excursions and languages.
• Closed: 25 December and 1 week in January.
• Entrance: AFTERNOON: adults €16.50, students: €14.85 disabled: €14.85, children (up to and including 6 years old): free, children 7 - 12 years old: €8.25
• Entrance IN THE EVENING: adults: 30 €, children 7-12 years old: 15 €, children under 6 years old inclusive - free of charge.

Sagrada Familia (Sagrada Familia)

It was one of his first buildings, which Antonio Gaudí built in 1886-1889. for his patron, the textile magnate Eusebio de Güell Bacigalupi. Probably, it was thanks to close friendship with him that Gaudi managed to achieve unprecedented architectural perfection: Guell did not count the money that he allocated for Gaudi's buildings and their constant restructuring, he settled numerous legal problems, and as a result, Gaudi became, in fact, the family architect of the Guells. He built everything for them - from clothes drying devices on the roof of a city house, and a mansion, and a church, and a whole park.

The architect and the industrialist had much in common: they were both from the neighborhood, both were fanatical patriots. Be sure to visit the palace; Fireplaces, bat-shaped weathercocks, parabolic arches, neo-Byzantine living rooms, spear columns on the second floor, multi-colored ceramic chimneys on the roof are unlikely to leave you indifferent (according to legend, to achieve the desired effect, Gaudí smashed objects of an extremely expensive Limoges service).

Interior of the Palace Güell

The decoration of the rooms was fabulously expensive - carved ceilings of rosewood and oak are decorated with false leaves of gold and silver, inlaid with ivory and tortoiseshell; candlesticks were attached to the marble walls. Some art historians believe that the drawing of the mansion resembles a plan in; others note similarities with Babylonian ziggurats. The mansion was the main official residence of Güell - even before the completion of construction work, he was visited here by the Queen Regent Maria Cristina.

In the 1880s, when construction was underway Palace Güell, the southeast side was considered unsuitable for a fashionable life - this cereal area was then called Chinatown and was teeming with prostitutes, alcoholics, syphilitics; it was here that the French writer Jean Genet lived, creating his "Diary of a Thief" - a chronicle of the life of the Barcelona "bottom". Now this area is populated mainly by immigrants from Latin America and is still considered the slums of Barcelona. By the way, if you want to live close to the center of Barcelona and very cheap, and you are not too scrupulous, then this place will be perfect - lots of cheap restaurants around, within walking distance…

Visit Palau Güell in Barcelona

• Palau Guell
• Address: Carrer Nou de la Rambla, 3-5
• Tel: +34 934 72 57 75
• Working hours:
• Open from Tuesday to Sunday, both days inclusive.
  • Summer work schedule (from April 1 to October 31): from 10 am to 8 pm (ticket office closes at 7 pm)
  • Winter work schedule (from November 1 to March 31): from 10 to 17:30 (the box office closes at 16:30)
  • Day off: Monday, excluding holidays, December 25 and 26, January 1 and from January 6 to 13 (for prevention)

• entrance:
  • adults: 12€
  • other options:
  • The audio guide is included in the ticket price.
• Buy ticket to Vdorets Güell:
  • Tickets can be purchased at the box office of the Palau Güell, located on the street. Nou de la Rambla, 1, 20 meters from the main entrance to the Palau Güell. Tickets can also be purchased in advance for a specific time and date.

According to legend, Barcelona was founded by the famous hero of ancient Greek myths - Hercules and restored from ruins in the 3rd century BC by the Carthaginian Hamilcar Barca, who named the city after his family - Barcino. Today Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain and the tenth largest in the European Union.

The capital of Catalonia is located on the Mediterranean coast. The hills on which the city was built gave the names to five of its districts: Carmel, Monterolls, Puchet, Rovira and Peira. Like most European cities, Barcelona consists of the Old City, which includes the Gothic Quarter, the New City, the 19th century building times, and modern districts.

The architecture of Barcelona reflects the main historical and cultural periods of the formation of the Catalan capital. The old city includes both medieval buildings, made in the Gothic style, and more ancient buildings from the period of Roman antiquity. The Eixample or New Town is a classic example of modernism of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. On Gràcia Boulevard, you can admire the masterpieces of the famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí and the lanterns with benches designed by Per Falques.

The main attractions of Barcelona are located in the historic center of the city. On the hill of Montjuic, located next to the seaport, you can visit the ancient fortress (1640), the open-air architectural museum known as the "Spanish Village", the National Art Museum of Catalonia and the Olympic facilities built for the 1992 Summer Games. The site lonelyplanet.com introduces us to the most beautiful sights of Barcelona.

Architectural sights of Barcelona - PHOTOS.

1. Sagrada Familia

The Expiatory Temple of the Sagrada Familia, located in Barcelona's Eixample, belongs to the architectural genius of the modernist era - Antonio Gaudí. The construction of the cathedral began in 1882. All work was paid for through private donations. Perhaps that is why the Sagrada Familia was built over more than one century. From 1882 to 1926, it was built under the direction of Gaudí. Since 1926, other well-known architects have alternately assumed patronage over the Temple. The consecration of the temple took place only in the XXI century. Sagrada Familia was built in the shape of a Latin cross. The building has five naves. The bell towers of the temple imitate the appearance of sand towers.

2. Church of Santa Maria del Mar

The Church of St. Mary on the Sea (namely, the name of the pearl of Spanish architecture is translated into Russian) is located in the old quarter of La Ribela, located in the Old Town. The Gothic building was erected during the mid-late 14th century, the time of the commercial and maritime heyday of Catalonia. Santa Maria del Mar is distinguished by the purity of its architectural style, strictly adhering to traditional medieval norms. For example, exquisite, at first glance, the stained-glass window of the western facade of the church - and that belongs to the style of flaming Gothic.

3. Torre Akbar

The 34-story skyscraper, located on Glorias Catalanes Square, got its name from the owners, the Akbar Group company. The prefix "Torre" in Catalan means "tower". The majestic building, reminiscent of its appearance as a spaceship, was completed in June 2005. The uniqueness of the facade of Torre Akbar is associated with its special structure. The outer part of the skyscraper is covered with metal, with LEDs built into them, and glass panels moving under the influence of temperature sensors. LED technology forms complex color combinations on the surface of Torre Akbar within 16 million options.

4. Palace of Catalan Music

Palau de la Musica Catalana is the brightest representative of Catalan Art Nouveau. The famous Barcelona Concert Hall was built by the architect Luis Domènech y Montaner at the beginning of the 20th century. The Palace of Catalan Music is the only one in Europe with natural light. Palau de la Musica Catalana is located on a small street in the historic quarter of La Ribela. The architectural features of Art Nouveau manifested themselves in the design of the Palace in curved lines, dynamic forms, and bright artistic ornaments. The decoration of the facade additionally includes elements of classical Spanish and Arab culture.

5. Hospital of the Holy Cross and St. Paul

The famous hospital complex of Barcelona is located in the New City. Built in the first third of the 20th century by the famous Catalan modernist architect Luis Domènech y Montaner, it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The first hospital of St. Paul appeared on this site back in 1401, when six medieval hospitals were merged into one. In its modern form, the hospital functioned until 2009, after which it was converted into a cultural center and a museum. Currently, various exhibitions are held on its territory.

6. Santa Caterina Market

The Santa Caterina market got its name from the name of the saint, who was dedicated to the convent that previously stood on this site. The religious institution was destroyed in 1835 by revolutionary events, after which the city council decided to give its land for commercial space, which the city at that time needed more. The first market building was designed by Joseph Mas Villa and opened in 1846. Santa Catarina acquired its modern look thanks to the work of Enrique Mirayes. It was he who proposed to decorate the roof of the market in bright, catchy colors.

7. House "La Pedrera"

In fact, the unusual Barcelona house, built at the beginning of the 20th century by the architect Antonio Gaudí, is called Mila House. "Pedrera", that is, "The Quarry", he was nicknamed by the locals, who at first did not accept modernism as an art form. The strange structure, completely devoid of straight lines, was perceived by the people of Barcelona as something terrible. Meanwhile, Mila's house is unique not only from the outside, but also from the inside. Natural ventilation works in it, and interior partitions are moved at the request of the apartment owners.

8. House of Amalie

Built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Amalie house combines neo-Gothic and modernist architectural features. The building was built in 1875. In 1898 it was bought by the Barcelona confectioner Antonio Amalie. On his behalf, the architect J. Puig i Cadafalca redesigned the decorative design of the building. The pediment of the latter acquired a stepped look, and an allegorical image of the owner appeared on the facade. Located in the Eixample district, the Amalie house is part of the "Quarter of Discord", so named because of the stylistic heterogeneity of its constituent buildings. Since 1976, the Amalie house has been a monument of national importance.

9. Casa Batlló

Casa Batlló bears the name of the textile magnate who commissioned the design of the building to modernist architect Antonio Gaudí. The residential building was erected in 1877 in the Eixample district, next to the Amalie house. The second name of the Casa Batlló - the House of Bones - is associated with its unusual architectural form. Like La Pedrera, this building lacks straight lines. The wavy curves of the façade give the building an allegorical image of a dragon, Gaudí's favorite character. In fact, Casa Batlló, with its forms and decorative elements, recreates the famous story of the slaying of the dragon by Saint George, the patron saint of Catalonia.

10. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Pavilion

The German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is one of the leading representatives of the international style that was formed within modernism in the 30-60s of the XX century. The Barcelona Pavilion was built in the 1980s exactly like its German predecessor. The Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Museum is housed in an original translucent building made of glass and different types of marble. In particular, the most famous works of the architect are exhibited in it: the sculpture of Georg Kolbe and the Barcelona Chair.

One of the greatest architects in the world and the most famous architect of Barcelona, ​​Gaudí, could have died at birth. The birth of his mother was very difficult, and the midwife immediately put an end to the boy. To save the soul of the newborn, he was immediately baptized. Subsequently, Gaudi 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 Gaudí y Sierra, and his mother, after whom the boy was named, was Antonia Cornet y Bertrand. The child received the surname, as was customary in Spain, from both parents - Gaudi i Cornet.
The father taught the child to understand the beauty of the things around him, instilled in Gaudi 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, rarely walked. 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, he liked to draw.
In 1863 he began his studies 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 that influenced his way of thinking and writing. Despite his intelligence, Antonio did not do well at school, and only geometry came easily to him.
In the family, Gaudí experienced many tragedies: his brother died in 1876. Following him, his mother 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 land. He became a student at the Higher School of Architecture only in 1874. Prior to this, Gaudi studied at the university at the Faculty of Exact Sciences, where he showed little diligence.
The architecture school gave more freedom for creativity and self-expression, and Gaudi soon became one of the best students. But his stubborn nature, the desire for protests often turned out to be low marks for him. The teachers decided that he was either a genius or crazy.
During his student years, the rheumatic pains in his legs finally disappeared, and in Gaudí he was able to walk normally. And it became one of his favorite things to do.
Antonio graduated in 1878. And in 1906 he suffered another grief - the death of his father. After 6 years, his niece followed him into 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 studied crafts and participated in competitions without success.
Initially, he carried out applied orders. The first official work of the architect Gaudí was lampposts in the Plaza Reial.

These pillars were a chandelier of 6 horns 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 creates his first major creation - Fountain in Plaza Catalunya. And, since that time, he erects many unique buildings in the Art Nouveau style.

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

In 1898 - 1900. being built (cat. Casa Calvet). Unlike other buildings of Gaudi, the house has a very traditional look, and its facades are symmetrical. The alternating convex and flat balconies, as well as bobbins and columns in the form of coils, give it its originality - 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 considered the opinion of the customer. He was modest, but at the same time eccentric, embodied all his fantasies in his works.

He was lucky to be born at a time when the Spanish bourgeoisie got rich and decided to show their triumph to the whole world. Building a more ostentatious home than the neighbor's was an easy way to prove one's superiority. Therefore, architects with an original vision, and not always talented, were popular and had complete freedom of action.
In the same period, Gaudi erected buildings in the neo-Gothic style and in the spirit of a fortified fortress, such as the begun bishop's palace in the city of Astorga (cat. Palacio Episcopal de Astorga). The design of this building, located in Castile, was commissioned in 1887 by the Bishop of Grao i Vallespinos, a Catalan by birth. Gaudi began to build the palace in the form of a medieval fortress, with a moat, four towers and battlements. It was a very bold decision for the palace of the clergyman, 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 work, Gaudí was engaged 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 real popularity was brought to him by the works created after meeting Eusebio Güell. He was a textile magnate, the richest Catalan, with a creative flair and taste. And he became a friend and patron of the brilliant architect.
There are two versions of their friendship - one by one they met at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1878, where Gaudi presented the project of the village of Mataro. However, this version is hardly plausible, since the layouts of an unknown architect could not attract the attention of the public.
According to another version, Güell noticed Antonio when he was decorating a Barcelona glove store. After receiving a diploma, the young man needed money and took on any job. Decorating the window, Gaudi did it impressively: from gloves strung on wire, he created entire scenes of urban life: horses pulling carriages, walking people and cats beloved by all Catalans.
Fascinated by the work of the master, Güell watched his work for a long time, and then asked the owner of the store 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 that, Gaudí became a frequent visitor to Güell's house. He showed him new sketches of his buildings, and Eusebio always entrusted him with the construction of precisely those that became a real masterpiece.
Many works and houses belonging to the architect Gaudi will survive the centuries, but it was these that brought him fame and finally shaped his unique style.

Palace Guell (cat. Palao Guell).

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

Casa Mila (cat. Casa Mila)

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

Batllo House (cat. Casa Batllo)

Casa Batllo by Antonio Gaudí also known as Casa Batlló 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, guessed in the balconies and columns, are his victims. The turret with a cross - the sword of St. George, the patron saint of Catalonia - pierces the dragon's body, 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 sights of Barcelona. The main 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. This Park Gaudi chose to live in and owned one of the houses.

(cat. Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia)

With the birth of Antonio Gaudí, the architecture of the whole world was enriched with many works, but the Sagrada Familia became the most outstanding. Gaudi began work on this cathedral in Barcelona in 1883, but did not have time to finish it. In this building, as in many others, the architect reflected what he saw in nature. A forest of columns with capitals in the form of branches, intertwining, create the vault of the building, and each tower and stained-glass window tell their own biblical story.
As conceived by Gaudi, the cathedral was supposed to have 3 facades depicting the life of Christ (Birth, Passion and Resurrection). It was also planned to install 12 turrets, symbolizing the apostles, 4 taller 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 of man.

Gaudí's architecture was way ahead of its time. During the construction of the Temple, Antonio Gaudí based the columns, vaults and other details on complex three-dimensional forms, which can now be recreated only by 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 solely on anonymous donations from parishioners. When this structure is completed (it is assumed that this will happen by 2026), it will become the tallest church in the world.

Antonio Gaudi was extremely mad and stubborn. Perhaps that is why quite funny cases arose with him.
Despite the fact that Gaudi rarely had conflicts with male customers, disputes with their wives were not uncommon. The mistress of the Batlo house was upset with the way their housing was being built. She noticed that because of the oval shape of the room in the music room, it would not be possible to place her daughter's piano. Gaudi ignored the tactfully expressed remarks, and left everything unchanged. The angry woman spoke sharply to the architect, but he, not embarrassed, said: the piano does not fit, buy a violin.

Gaudí and his father were vegetarians and were committed to clean water and fresh air. At the same time, Antonio, as a true Christian, showed moderation in food. For dinner, he, a man of rather large build, ate only lettuce leaves, dipped in milk, and a handful of nuts.
Gaudi passionately loved Catalonia and dreamed of enriching its culture. One day, the police mistook the unkemptly dressed architect for a tramp and stopped him. They asked him some 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. Finally realizing that the architect was already well-known at that time, they wanted to hush up the matter, but he continued to talk carelessly in their native language. For which he spent 4 hours in the station.
Gaudí's construction costs were colossal. When the architect, in addition to the main bill, presented the Mila family with an overtime bill, 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.
The architect is also credited with more scandalous things: it is believed that he made casts of stillborn children for the scene of beating babies, and in order to accurately repeat the contours of animals, he put them to sleep with chloroform before applying plaster.

Personal life

The great architect Gaudi spent his whole life alone. In his youth, he dressed very catchy and attracted the attention of women. However, when they learned about his profession, which at that time was considered akin to a craftsman, they lost interest in him. Women were worried 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 Joseph Moreu, nicknamed Pepeta. In 1884, this wayward woman worked as a teacher at the school of the Mataro cooperative. Gaudi carried out an order for this enterprise and often visited Pepeta and her sister.
Pepeta gladly accepted the courtship of a 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 nevertheless proposed to her. And he was taken aback: Pepeta said that she was already engaged to a successful timber merchant.
More Gaudi did not propose to any girl. Years later, he fell in love again with one woman, a young American. But their relationship ended when she returned to the States.

Death

All his life, Gaudí 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 church of Sant Felip Neri. At that time, he was already 73 years old, and the architect visited this church every day. While walking absentmindedly between the streets of Girona and Bailen, he was hit by a tram. Antonio lost consciousness.
The untidy 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 help. It was not until July 8 that he was recognized by the chaplain of the Sagrada Familia, 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 incomparable architectural delights, one of the capitals of Art Nouveau. The creations of Antonio Gaudi occupy a central place in the urban space. Millions of tourists travel to Barcelona to see these masterpieces of architecture.

In total, there are thirteen objects built by Gaudí in Barcelona.

Sagrada Familia

One of Gaudí's most famous works in Barcelona is La Sagrada Familia or Sagrada Familia. This is a huge temple that has been under construction for over 130 years. The construction of the basilica began back in 1882, and it is expected to end only by 2050. This is not only the most famous, but also the most visited tourist attraction in Barcelona. You can find the Sagrada Familia at Mallorca, 401. To get to it, you need to take the lilac L2 or blue L5 metro line to the Sagrada Familia station or bus routes 19, 33, 34, 43, 44, 50 and 51.

There are always huge queues of tourists in the Sagrada. Therefore, we recommend that you purchase a ticket to the cathedral in advance. You can do it using this link.

Casa Batlló

Casa Batllo is one of the most unusual houses in Barcelona. The house looks like it was built from skulls and bones. It is felt that when designing this house, Gaudi was inspired by the depths of the sea. The facade of the building has a delicate coral color.

Sir Antonio paid great attention to details. One has only to pay attention to the windows of Casa Batlló: their size depends on how high they are. Thus, the issue of uniform lighting of the rooms was solved.

Tourists will be able to see Casa Batllo at Passeigde Gràcia, 43, which can be reached if you take the L3 metro green line to Passeigde Gràcia station. It is worth paying attention to the subway exit! It should be Calle Aragó - Rambla Catalunya - and then it will take literally 30 seconds to walk to Casa Batlló.

Tickets to Casa Batlló can also be bought in advance.

Park Güell

You should definitely visit the aristocratic park of Barcelona, ​​built by Gaudi commissioned by Eusebi Güell. Güell Park is home to unique stone structures, amazing mosaics and magnificent buildings. At the entrance to the park, tourists are greeted by a dragon fountain decorated with mosaics.

It is in this park that one feels how strongly the natural principle influenced the architecture of Antonio Gaudi. There are huge stone columns that have grown out of the ground like strange tree trunks.

At the top of the park there is a terrace from which everyone can enjoy a magnificent view not only of the park, but of all of Barcelona.

Casa Vicens

Not many tourists are aware of the existence of Casa Vicens, one of Gaudí's earliest works. This family residence was designed and built under the order of the industrialist Manuel Vicens in 1878-1889. The style of the building mixes Spanish-Arabic with Oriental and adds Gaudí's characteristic influence of nature.

Bright colors and special attention to detail will impress any architecture lover.

Address: Carrer de les Carolines, 18-24 Nearest metro station: Fontana, green line L3

You can also get acquainted with the main creations of Gaudi during one sightseeing tour or have fun with the help of modern technologies in 4D space.

If you went to Barcelona with young travelers, they will surely enjoy the tour.

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 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 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 non-standard landmark of Barcelona, ​​which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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

Since Gaudi was an adherent of natural motifs and drew a source of inspiration from them, each element of this unusual house was a reflection of his preferences.

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. City residence Guell (Palau Guell)

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

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

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

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

4. Park Guell

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

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

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

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

5. Casa Batllo

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

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

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

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

6. House Mila - Pedrera (Casa Mila)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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