Antoni Gaudí

Cel mai faimos si stralucitor architect modernist, Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926), a construit in
Barcelona cele mai bune lucrari ale sale. Patru dintre acestea ne pot schimba punctul de vedere
asupra lumii.

PARCUL GÜELL

Este unul dintre cele mai mari parcuri din Barcelona. Initial a fost proiectat ca un
parc in stil englezesc. Formele si lucrarile in mozaic familiare stilului Gaudi sunt
evidente peste tot in acest parc, pornind de la banci pana la porticuri.

CASA BATLLÓ

On the Passeig de Gràcia, and right beside two of Barcelona’s other architectural jewels stands this
simply incredible building. The curved shapes and antropomorphic suggestions make it an eerie
sight when it is illuminated at night. All Gaudi’s favourite materials are used here, such as ceramic
tiles (on the roof) and mosaic (on the façade).
SAGRADA FAMILIA

Begun over 100 years ago in 1882, and still less than half completed, this is undoubtedly one of
Barcelona’s most characteristic buildings. You can visit the structure and climb up some of the
towers if you have a head for heights, and there is a museum that has models of what the final
structure will look like, with a massive central tower that soars 200 feet above and between the
current towers. There are 3 façades: the Passion, the Nativity and the Gloria with sculptural
contributions from different sculptors, including Japanese artist Etsuro Sotoo whose work can be
seen on the Nativity facade. On the Passion facade is the controversial work of local sculptor Josep
M. Subirachs, which seems to stand apart from the rest of the work to most observers and therefore
is the focus of great criticism from some quarters and praise from others.
CASA MILÁ (LA PEDRERA)

Also on Passeig de Gràcia a few blocks higher up, although on the opposite side of the street, this
building is Gaudí’s most immediately recognizable work, along with the Sagrada Familia temple,
and is generally considered to be his most accomplished work and the pinnacle of modernist
architecture. The ondulating balconies and windows and the interior, as impressive as the outside,
were used in Antonioni’s film The Passenger. In 1986 La Pedrera was acquired by the Caixa de
Catalunya (an important savings bank) with the intention of turning the building into a cultural and
resource centre. Extensive restoration work was undertaken, lasting ten years, and the difference is
spectacular. The façade, which was covered with black soot from urban pollution, now proudly
shows of its sinuous curves and elaborate metalwork. The staircases and interior courtyards have
also been restored to their original state with the careful recovery and restoration of the original
mural paintings.

The most spectacular project was the recovery of the original attic, one of the most original aspects
of Gaudí’s work. In the 1950’s the attic was converted into apartments (13 separate ones!) and to
take them apart and recover the original structure was a slow and arduous task. The restoration of
the roof, with the chimneys that are a symbol of Barcelona, involved cleaning by hand the
thousands of pieces of tile fixed with mortar that Gaudí used as a kind of mosaic. Missing or
damaged fragments of tile, glass or stonework were replaced using same kind of calcium mortar of
the original work (the portland cement of other restorations was also replaced with this).
The attic needed structural consolidation as well as reconstruction of the diaphragmatic arches (see
photo). The attic was intended from the start of Caixa de Catalunya’s venture to become a public
space. It was named Espai Gaudí (Gaudí Space) and it offers the most complete global vision of
Antoni Gaudí’s life (in cultural and historical context), his work and the artistic and technical values
he created, and last but not least a detailed study of the formal and structural elements of La
Pedrera. The layout of the space and the drawings, models, photographs and audiovisual displays
produced especially for this project allow the visitor to understand the architecture of Gaudí through
historical context and reasoning. From the architect’s origins through his early work to detailed
analyses of his main projects in Barcelona, to a stupendous series of models that explain the fusion
of art and technique in Gaudí’s work, the tour finishes on the roof, with the silent sentry like
chimneys and a magnificent view of the city. For educational purposes there is also a library and
media library specialized in Gaudi’s work.

The Pedrera as a whole and the Gaudí Space in particular should not be missed by anyone visiting
Barcelona with an interest in the city and it’s history and character. Hours are: Tuesday to Saturday
from 10am to 8pm, Sunday 10am to 3pm. Closed Mondays. By appointment: from Tuesday to
Friday 10am to midday. Cost: 500 ptas; students and senior citizens 300 ptas, children under 11
don’t pay.