THE VISIONARY ARCHITECT
Antoni Gaudí
Discover the life and work of the genius behind Catalan Modernisme, an artist who sculpted buildings into breathtaking natural forms.
God's Architect
Antoni Gaudí i Cornet was a Spanish architect and the greatest exponent of Catalan Modernisme. His works are a testament to his lifelong passions: architecture, nature, and religion.
Influenced by neo-Gothic art and Oriental techniques, Gaudí developed a style that was uniquely his own, one deeply inspired by the flowing, organic forms of the natural world. He rarely drew detailed plans, preferring to create three-dimensional scale models and mold the details as he conceived them. His masterpiece, the still-incomplete Sagrada Família, is the most-visited monument in Spain, a powerful symbol of his faith and creative genius.
A Life of Creation
Follow the journey of a visionary architect from his humble beginnings to international renown.
1852
Birth and Beginnings
Antoni Gaudí i Cornet is born in either Reus or Riudoms, Catalonia, into a family of coppersmiths, where he develops an early appreciation for form and material.
1878
Architectural Graduation
Gaudí graduates from the Barcelona Higher School of Architecture. The school's director famously declares, 'We have given this academic title to a fool or a genius. Time will show.'
1883
The Sagrada Família
He takes over the design and construction of the Sagrada Família, transforming the project into his life's work and a revolutionary synthesis of Gothic and Art Nouveau forms.
1900-1914
Park Güell
Gaudí designs Park Güell, a public park system that showcases his mastery of landscape architecture and imaginative use of natural forms and colorful mosaics.
1904-1906
Casa Batlló
He redesigns a conventional house into one of Barcelona's most iconic buildings, with a skeletal facade and a roof resembling the back of a dragon.
1906-1910
Casa Milà (La Pedrera)
His last major civil work, 'La Pedrera' (The Quarry), features an undulating stone facade and a surreal rooftop sculpture garden, defying all architectural conventions of its time.
1926
A Tragic End
Gaudí dies at the age of 73 after being struck by a tram. He is buried in the crypt of his unfinished masterpiece, the Sagrada Família.
Masterpieces in Barcelona
Gaudí's vision transformed the cityscape of Barcelona, leaving behind a legacy of architectural wonders that continue to inspire awe.
Sagrada Família
Gaudí's magnum opus, a monumental basilica that has been under construction since 1882 and has become a symbol of Barcelona.
Park Güell
A whimsical public park combining natural forms with vibrant mosaics, offering panoramic views of the city.
Casa Batlló
A fantastical building known as the 'House of Bones' for its skeletal, organic facade and dreamlike interior.
Casa Milà (La Pedrera)
A masterpiece of residential architecture with an undulating stone facade and a surreal rooftop terrace of sculptural chimneys.
Palau Güell
An opulent urban palace that was one of Gaudí's first major commissions from his patron Eusebi Güell.
Casa Vicens
Gaudí's first important work, a summer house that blends Moorish revival architecture with a wealth of colorful tiles and patterns.
Nature as the Ultimate Guide
"Originality consists in returning to the origin," Gaudí once said. For him, the origin was nature itself.
He eschewed the rigid lines of conventional architecture in favor of the curves and contours he observed in the natural world. From the branching columns of the Sagrada Família that mimic a forest canopy to the wave-like facade of Casa Milà, his work is a symphony of organic forms. He pioneered techniques like trencadís (using broken tile shards to create vibrant mosaics) and the catenary arch, creating structures that were not only beautiful but also ingeniously engineered.
An Enduring Legacy
Gaudí's work transcends time, influencing generations of architects and artists. Seven of his works have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a testament to his exceptional contribution to humanity's cultural heritage.