Antoni Gaudi i Cornet
June 10th, 2016 marked the 90th anniversary of the death of one of Spain’s most controversial architects! Even though he has been gone 90 years, his work and the mark he has made on Spanish buildings, makes it seem like he is still alive today.
Gaudi was a sick child and because of his many ailments spent much of his childhood indoors. Though he didn’t get out much, he watched and learned many lessons by observing the world around him. He was very artistically inclined and used his abilities to finance his higher education. Gaudi was considered by some of his teachers as, lazy, crazy and downright insane. When he graduated from the Barcelona School of Architecture the director of the school said: “We have given this academic title to either a fool or a genius. “ Some would even say this is true today……
Gaudi loved to imagine his designs into being. Where most architects would draw on paper what they envisioned a building to be, Gaudi took the time to actually make a three dimensional model of what he was going to build. Some of his models were built on a 1:25 scale.
He started with small commissions and worked his way from designing lamposts, and other buildings, to being recognized at the Paris World’s Fair of 1878. Here he came into his own with some designs that caught the attention and acclaim that many struggling architects never receive. Once he was accepted in this circle, his name and work became very well known. In 1883 he became the main architect on the Sacred Family Basilica.
Gaudi was a very devout Catholic, so this project was exactly something that he could pour his heart and soul into. He had a long list of buildings and public spaces that bore the genius of his vision and his circle of co-workers were responsible for many different and wonderfully crafted buildings that bore Gaudi’s modernistic stamp. Gaudi’s work was his life and as such there were always more than one commission being worked on at a time.
The Basilica Sagrada Familia took up all of his time, to the point that he lived in his workshop, at the Basilica. Today the Basilica is still not complete and many more architects have worked to make the vision of Gaudi’s Basilica a reality. It is the biggest Basilica in Spain and the most controversial.
The site has had work started and stopped on numerous occasions. Sometimes wars and monetary setbacks would halt the work. Today money is not a problem. Tickets are sold to people from all over the world who want to see this masterpiece of architecture that Gaudi started and that money is what now finances the continuing building. It is a masterpiece and so beautiful in the way it has come together. Gaudi was a master at using what he found in nature and translating it into the arches, niches, soaring pillars and everything within the building. He loved geometry and it shows in every area of the Basilica.
If anyone is interested in Architecture and wants to study some of the beautiful buildings, they must include Gaudi’s buildings in their studies. So many influences inspired him, and surely studying what he did, will inspire you too!
If you know someone who would enjoy this brilliant Architect, then check out this book.
The Complete Works of Gaudi would be a great alternative or companion piece!
I don’t know if the Basilica will ever be finished in my lifetime, but, I do know that I personally consider Gaudi a Genius and that his buildings and designs won’t be duplicated any time soon. I could sit and admire what has been built and marvel that someone could actually create something so beautiful.
I don’t know if the Basilica will ever be finished in my lifetime, but, I do know that I personally consider Gaudi a Genius and that his buildings and designs won’t be duplicated any time soon. I could sit and admire what has been built and marvel that someone could actually create something so beautiful.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
