In July 2003, the Vatican begins the canonization of the Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi. The inhabitants of Barcelona swear that on the day he was buried, the stones in the city wept, and the houses he built bowed mournfully over their towers.
But words alone are not enough to interest the Vatican. So there is something more to this story. They say Antoni Gaudi talked to God: “My customer is in no hurry…”
Who did Gaudi mean? How could he build without drawings what he needed? modern science still can't give a technical justification?
Colony Güell Crypt- one of Gaudi's incomprehensible creations. Only he understood how these vaults would hold up.
In the Catalan chronicle Gaudí is mentioned as "The Great Sphinx of World Architecture". After him, only mysteries remained, the answers to which humanity is still looking for:
short biography
Antonio Gaudi was born June 25, 1852 in a small Catalan town Reus. The midwife said that the boy would not survive - he was urgently baptized to save the baby’s soul. Death miraculously retreated.
The baby was given a terrible diagnosis - severe arthritis. Doctors determine maximum term a boy's life is no more than 3 years...
Life goes on
When Antonio was 5 years old, he and his mother went to Tarragona, to the Virgin Mary. There's a boy from severe pain unable to kneel, bowed his head and thanked the Virgin Mary for still being alive. He also vowed to find out why!
At the age of 6, Antonio admired the sea and was amazed at the nature of the water:
"The shape of the waves is never repeated and is always found new part. In one big wave there are hundreds of other, smaller ones. If people lived by the sea, they would not feel lonely: the streets and houses would merge into one element, but at the same time they would never become faceless and similar to each other.”
During this period, the boy realized that nature is not monochromatic, there are no straight lines in it. They were invented by a man. It was on the seashore that Gaudi built his first house - out of sand.
Antoni Gaudi never thought of his projects as free-standing buildings. He always created special world Around them.
I'm an architect now!
When Antonio Gaudi, a graduate of the Higher School of Architecture in Barcelona, was awarded a diploma, the rector said: “I don’t know if this is a genius or a madman”.
Antonio responded to this: “Looks like I’m an architect now!”
From that moment on, his whole life will change. There will be no place for a family, a beloved woman, or a close friend.
House of Manuel Vicens
Manufacturer Manuel Vicens The young architect was not embarrassed by the unique style. He orders the design and construction of his house from Gaudi. With this, Vicens immortalized his name in history - in Barcelona, houses are named after their customers.
While examining the construction site, Gaudi notices a huge palm tree surrounded by a carpet yellow color. All these elements are present in the design of the house and its fence. In 2 years Antonio will “grow up” in the yard of Don Vincennes a real palace.
The material that the architect used to decorate the house became very popular after that. Cold tiles look warm and lively in appearance. People were amazed at this creation, which immortalized the name of Vicens.
Period of construction and decoration of the Vincennes house: from 1883 to 1888.
Park Guell
Many compare Park Guell with Wonderland, which Lewis Carroll spoke about in his “Alice...”. Antonio Gaudi fit space into the Park so skillfully that it is almost impossible to understand where nature ends and where architecture begins.
In parallel with Park Güell, Gaudi is working on his famous creation - Holy Family Temple of Atonement ( Sagrada Familia) , construction of which began in 1883 and continues to this day.
Lizard without a tail
Lizard without a tail- one of Gaudi's famous creations, which is located in Park Güell. Gaudi sent water from underground springs through her veins. Many believe that even the spray in which this creature bathes is healing.
In order to finish the lizard as intended, Gaudi split the customer's insanely expensive service. He tormented everyone, picking up the necessary fragments for his unique mosaic. When glass supplies ran low, he sent workers to the streets of Barcelona to collect broken bottles.
The longest bench in the world
The longest bench in the world located in Park Güell. Its pattern of multi-colored ceramics seems random only at first glance. If you look at it longer, you will notice “mysterious signs” appearing.
Salvador Dali could spend hours on a bench in Park Güell. The artist’s paintings contain patterns snatched from the world of Gaudí’s architecture. The Great Dali worshiped the Great Gaudi, but they were not given the opportunity to meet in real life.
Crypt
Crypt(1898-1916) performed by Gaudi still misleads modern architects - it does not have the usual supports for buildings and seems to support itself. Antonio discovered a new way to support-free flooring using mesh and cement (see video for details).
The more fragile Gaudí's arches look in the Güell crypt, the more durable they are. The architect also designed the furniture for the crypt himself - these are amazing objects with curved lines and bone-shaped legs.
Architect inIn the 19th century, he learned to revive objects and adapt them to people!
The period of construction of the palace, manor pavilion, park, chapel and crypt of Güell - 1883-1916.
Thanks to the richest customer, Güell, the entire high society of Barcelona will know about Gaudi. There is a queue of customers lining up to see him.
House Calvet
Once upon a time, an architect was commissioned to build a house that bears the name Calvet. The place for construction was terrible - the neighboring houses stood almost closely. Only with the help of sophisticated planning could another building be squeezed in here.
This was a challenge for Antonio, which he accepted. After the construction of the Calvet house, the city authorities will highly appreciate its elegance in general and its individual semantic elements in particular. For this, Gaudi will receive an award - the first and last from the Barcelona government.
All elements of the decoration of the house were not random and were worn deep meaning. Take, for example, the hammer on the door of the house in the shape of a cross. To knock on them, you had to hit the “beetle with a cross” - a symbol of evil. That is, anyone who wanted to enter had to first overcome sin (knock on the door).
The Calvet House was built during the period from 1898 to 1900.
Temple of the Atonement of the Holy Family
IN Church of the Holy Family Gaudi is at this moment finishing the facade of one of the three towers - the Nativity. The architect was 41 years old at that time. The first donkeys, snails, and dogs appear at the temple. To make a cast of animals, the architect puts them to sleep with chloroform, coats them with fat and casts them before they can even wake up.
If in the Middle Ages architectural structures were fabulously fictional (they wore fictional characters on the facades), then in the time of Gaudi nature itself became a fairy tale in architecture.
At the very peak of his architectural career, Antonio Gaudi ceased to be interested in expensive projects. Rumors spread around Barcelona: “The architect really has a special client, it is for him that he is building the Sagrada Familia!” Temple of Redemption, destined to become a stone Bible.
This is what will happen if construction is completed:
- The tallest tower of the temple, 170 meters high, will personify Christ.
- The smaller tower is the Virgin Mary.
- The other 12 towers are the 12 apostles.
- The 3 facades of the Church of the Holy Family are 3 sacraments (Christmas, Passion and Glory). The cathedral will be crowned with a huge luminous cross.
Gaudi still doesn’t have any drawings... He once dropped a phrase about this:
“All architecture already exists in nature, you just need to look around”
Mass on the Holy Mount of Montserrat
At this moment Antonio Gaudi often visits Montserrat mountain, where he dissolves in the sounds of the mass. After her, he went out onto the mountain and stood silently, immersed in “religious ecstasy.” After one of these incidents, he even fell into a lethargic sleep.
It was after this that he stated that from now on he would work only on religious orders, and if he was offered a secular project, he would have to “ ask permission to perform from the Holy Madonna of Montserrat».
It was not possible to obtain any other details from the architect. Perhaps he received an answer to his long-standing children's question: Why does he live so long?
Drawings for followers
Gaudi understood that he would not have time to finish the Temple of the Atonement and for the first time in all time began to make drawings and projects so that his followers could finish this brilliant creation. Unfortunately, the drawings were destroyed by fire during the Civil War.
Antonio managed to finish only one of the 3 facades of the cathedral - Nativity facade. But by some miracle, the construction of the temple continues. It is being built by representatives different countries, peoples and even different religions. Gaudi continues to dictate his will and turn architecture into an extension of nature.
Death of a genius
On June 7, 1926, an elderly man walked out of a church in Barcelona. He smiled and waved to the children playing, then walked towards the street. He no longer looked around and walked forward.
The tram driver did not have time to brake...
The pedestrian, carried away by his thoughts, didn’t even notice: “...there are no trams or straight lines in nature...” The downed old man was mistaken for a beggar and sent to the Santa Cruz hospital. The same one where he made casts of dead children for the biblical panorama " Murder of babies».
His friends found him there only the next day, when the injuries he received were already incompatible with life and even the best clinic could not help him.
Antonio Gaudi died June 10, 1926. The next day, newspapers were published under the headings “There is no genius in Barcelona”, “A Saint has died in Barcelona”, “Even the stones mourn him”. Antonio Gaudi rests in the crypt of the Cathedral of the Holy Family.
While studying at school, Gaudi showed artistic talent. He paints the backstage of the school theater. And in 1867, the school weekly “El Harlequin,” published in a circulation of only 12 copies, published several drawings of the genius. In 1968, the architect graduated from school.
From 1869 to 1874, Gaudí moved to Barcelona and took architectural preparatory courses at the University of Barcelona at the Faculty of Natural Sciences.
Learning and becoming
In 1870, the restoration of the Poblet monastery, which Gaudi dreamed of, is planned. The architect develops a sketch of the coat of arms for the rector.
In 1873, Gaudí entered the Provincial School of Architecture in Barcelona. In 1876, the architect's elder brother and mother died. By the time he graduated from the school of architecture in 1877, a huge number of sketches and projects had been created: a pier for ships, the Central Hospital of Barcelona, the cemetery gates.
Until 1882, while Gaudí worked as a draftsman under the supervision of Francisco Villar and Emilio Sala, he studied crafts, created furniture for his own home and did other small work. During this time, participation in competitions did not bring results.
In 1878, Gaudí was finally noticed and received his first public commission - a street lamp for Barcelona. Already in 1879 the project was implemented.
Gaudi pays attention to the study of old architectural monuments in the vicinity of Barcelona. The architect attends excursions with the Catalan “Excursion Center,” members of the Catalan Association of Architects. At this time, the first major order for the construction of a mansion was received from Manuel Vicens y Montaner.
In 1879, Gaudi's sister, Rosita Gaudi de Egea, died, leaving behind a daughter. The architect takes his niece to live in Barcelona. He himself was never married, and, according to contemporaries, due to his unsuccessful personal life in his old age, he became a misogynist. The master had no children.
Recognition and the most significant buildings
In 1881, Gaudí's only journalistic work was published in the newspaper La Renaixenca, it was dedicated to the exhibition applied arts. The project “Obrera Mataronense”, a workers’ settlement, has been completed and is being printed in the Hepus printing house.
IN late XIX century, the neo-Gothic style flourished in Europe, and the architect became delighted with new ideas. The handwriting was strongly influenced by the work of Viollet-le-Duc, who restored Notre-Dame de Paris, and the English art critic John Ruskin.
With no less interest, Gaudí studied the architecture of Barcelona, especially the neo-Gothic works of Joan Martorell. They met in 1882; the genius remained under the influence of the famous Spaniard for a long time. It was under the patronage of Martorell that Antonio Gaudi was approved in 1883 (November 3) as the architect of the Sagrada Familia (Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família), after the departure of Francisco del Villar. In parallel with this, the first project for Güell is being developed - the Hunting Pavilion near Sitges.
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In 1884-1887, Gaudí designed and implemented the equestrian yard and entrance gate to Les Corts, Güell's estate. The order has for real great importance and the results only confirm the industrialist's desire to cooperate.
Convinced of Gaudi's talent, in 1886 Guell ordered him to build the Palace in Barcelona. It is the Güell Palace (Palau Güell) that brings the master fame among the bourgeoisie. He transforms from an ordinary builder into a fashionable architect, who has become a symbol of “unaffordable luxury.” Playing with space, behaving like living matter, impressed the customer. During the construction period, Gaudi traveled through Andalusia and then Morocco in the retinue of the Margrave of Comillas. Work on the Palais Güell was completed in 1889.
From 1887 to 1893, the master was involved in the construction of the Bishop's Palace in the neo-Gothic style in the city of Astorg in Castile. But the building remained unfinished until 1915, since the architect, due to disagreements with the chapter, refused to lead the project in 1893.
In parallel, in 1888-1889, Gaudi worked with the Gothic-fortress project of the monastery School of St. Theresa in Barcelona. Around the same period, from 1891 to 1892, the Casa Botines in León was built under his leadership.
Finding time between visits to the construction site, the architect manages to visit Tangier and Malaga to get acquainted with the site where construction was to be carried out for the Franciscan Mission. But the project remained unfulfilled.
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Contemporaries note that Gaudi was a devout Catholic and strictly observed fasting. It was this reason, coupled with poor health, that caused a serious deterioration in my general condition. The recovery process was difficult and greatly affected inner world architect.
From 1895 to 1901, Gaudí built many buildings for Eusebio Güell. For a long time, his involvement in the outbuildings and wine cellars in Garraf remained unknown. It was believed that only his friend Francesc Berenguer i Mestres worked on them.
In 1898, Gaudí created a design for the Church of Colonia Güell, but built only the staircase complex and the Crypt. The building stood unfinished for a long time, and was completed only in 1917. At the same time, in 1898, the Calvet House (Casa Calvet) was built in a pseudo-baroque style for the industrialist Pere Martir Calvet i Carbonell. The house was completed in 1900 and received a municipal prize as the best building of the year. This award was the only one during Gaudí's lifetime.
The year 1900 was significant for the architect, and he designed a sculptural ensemble for the Catalan shrine - the Monastery of Montserrat. The hand of the master is visible in the design of the altar chapel.
Still in 1900, an order was received from Maria Sages for the construction of a country house on the site of the royal residence of Marty I. An unusual solution was chosen for the project - medieval castle. Since the construction was carried out on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and on the top of a hill, the house was named “Bellesguard”, which translates as “beautiful view”. The work was completed in 1909. At first glance, the building seems very simple, but in fact Gaudi combined the surrounding landscape and a dead structure in it. The mixture of Mudejar and neo-Gothic echoes the House of Vicens and El Capriccio.
The year 1900 was truly eventful. Güell ordered Gaudi to create a huge park in Gràcia, which at that time was a suburb of Barcelona. According to the industrialist's plan, it was supposed to be an English park, an outlet from industrialization, and at the same time a spontaneous romantic garden. The architect himself and his niece subsequently settled on one of the plots. The grandiose work on Park Güell was completed in 1914, along with the design of the area at the main entrance, alleys and large terrace. However, it was not possible to realize Güell's large-scale plan to build a new green residential area.
Gaudi simultaneously worked on several projects at once. So, in 1901, an order was received from the manufacturer Miralles to design the walls of the estate and the entrance gate. From 1903 to 1914, the architect led the reconstruction of the cathedral in Palma de Mallorca and created its interior.
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As mentioned earlier, the architect moved to one of the houses in Park Güell in 1906, but not because of vanity, the master was very modest, but because of his father’s illness. Yet on October 29, 1906, Gaudí’s father dies.
From 1906 to 1910, work was carried out on the Casa Milà, another unusual project. The architect wanted to build a house similar to a living creature, in which the space would not be static, but would develop and be reborn. Gaudi's plan was quite a success, although it was received with hostility by his contemporaries.
The fame of the Catalan architect went far beyond the country. In 1908, an order was received from New York for the construction of a hotel. But the work ended at the stage of drawing sketches offering a bold and extraordinary solution. At the same time, Gaudi was designing a chapel at the School of St. Theresa, but the leadership of the educational institution rejected the project. Also in 1908, construction of the Crypt of Colonia Güell in Santa Coloma was resumed.
All this time, starting in 1882, the construction of the Sagrada Familia has been going on. In 1909, the master decided to create a temporary school for the children of the temple parishioners. A feature of the structure was the abundance of curvilinear forms and the absence of partitions.
In 1910, under the auspices of the National Society of Fine Arts, the only major lifetime exhibition in Paris was held, at which Gaudí's various projects were presented.
In 1912, the architect's niece, Rosa Egea i Gaudi, died in poor health; she was 36 years old. In 1914, a close friend and ally, Francesc Berenguer i Mestres, died. After a break, construction of the Sagrada Familia resumed.
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It is impossible to imagine romantic Paris without Gustave Eiffel's tower, eternal Rome without the Colosseum, prim London without Big Ben, and sultry Barcelona without the buildings of Antoni Gaudi. Great master and the genius of architecture created the appearance of the city by which the whole world now recognizes it. Working for the benefit of people for almost nothing, constructing his masterpieces for the pleasure of rich townspeople, he devoted his entire life to art, ending his journey in poverty. However, the master’s talent and memory of him are forever etched in stone.
Antonio Gaudi, architect: biography
The future famous architect was born on June 25, 1852, according to some sources, this happened in the town of Reus near Tarragona, according to others - in Riudoms. His father's name was Francesco Gaudi i Sierra, and his mother was Antonia Cornet i Bertrand. He was the fifth child in the family. He received his name in honor of his mother, and acquired the double surname Gaudi y Cornet according to the old Spanish tradition.
Antonio's father belonged to a family of blacksmiths, he was engaged not only in forging, but also in copper coinage, and his mother was an ordinary housewife who devoted herself to raising children. The son began to understand the objective beauty of the world quite early, and at the same time fell in love with drawing. Perhaps the origins of Gaudi’s creativity go back to his father’s craft forge. The architect's mother had to endure severe trials, almost all children died in infancy. In her memoirs, she said that Antonio was proud that he was able to survive, despite the difficult birth and illness. He carried the idea of his special role and purpose throughout his life.
After the death of all his brothers and sister, his mother, in 1879, Antonio, along with his father and little niece, settled in Barcelona.
Study in Reus
A. Gaudi received his basic education in Reus. His academic performance was average; the only subject he knew brilliantly was geometry. He had little contact with his peers and preferred solitary walks to noisy boyish society. However, he still had friends - Jose Ribera and Eduardo Toda. The latter, in particular, recalled that Gaudí especially did not like cramming, and his studies were made difficult by frequent bouts of illness.
He first showed himself in the field of art in 1867, when he tried his hand at decorating a theater stage as an artist. Antonio Gaudi coped with this task brilliantly. However, even then he was attracted by architecture - “painting in stone”, and he regarded drawing as a passing craft.
Studying in Barcelona and becoming
After graduating from school in his native Reus in 1869, Gaudí had the opportunity to continue his education at higher education. educational institution. However, he decided to wait a little and prepare well. To this end, in 1869 he went to Barcelona, where the first thing he did was get a job in an architectural bureau as a draftsman. At the same time, the 17-year-old boy signed up for preparatory courses, where he studied for 5 years, which is quite a long time. In the period from 1870 to 1882, he worked under the guidance of architects F. Villar and E. Sala: he participated in various competitions, performed small works (lanterns, fences, etc.), studied crafts and even designed furniture for his own home.
At this time, Europe was in the grip of the neo-Gothic style, and the young architect was no exception. He enthusiastically followed his ideals, as well as the ideas of neo-Gothic enthusiasts. This is the period when the style of the architect Gaudi was formed, his special and unique view of the world. He fully supported the declaration of art critic D. Ruskin that decorativeness is the beginning of architecture. His creative style became more and more unique from year to year and far from generally accepted traditions. Gaudí graduated from the provincial school of architecture in 1878.
Architect Gaudi: interesting facts
- During his student years, Gaudí was a member of the Nui Guerrer (“New Army”) society. Young people were busy decorating carnival floats and performing skits on historical and political themes from the lives of famous Catalans.
- The decision at the final exam at the Barcelona school was made collegiately (by majority vote). In conclusion, the director turned to his colleagues and said: “Gentlemen, before us is either a genius or a madman.” To this remark Gaudi replied: “It seems that I am now an architect.”
- Father and son Gaudí were vegetarians, adherents of clean air and a special diet according to the method of Dr. Kneipp.
- One day Gaudi received an order from a choral society with a request to make a banner (a banner with the faces of Christ, the Virgin Mary or saints) for religious processions. By all accounts, it should have been extremely heavy, but the architect was smart and used cork instead of ordinary wood.
- Since 2005, the works of Antoni Gaudi have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Register.
First job
The student's financial situation was quite fragile. There was no support to be expected from the family from Reus, and the work of a draftsman brought in a very modest income. Gaudi barely made ends meet. He had no loved ones nearby, almost no friends, but he had a talent that began to be noticed. At that moment, the work of the architect Gaudi was going through a formative stage; he was far from his search and believed that experiments were the lot of professionals in their field. In 1870, the Catalan authorities attracted architects of various categories to the restoration of the monastery in Poblet. Young Gaudi sent his sketch of the coat of arms of the abbot of the monastery to the design competition and won. This work became his first creative victory and brought him a good fee.
How, if not luck, can we consider Gaudi’s acquaintance with Joan Martorell in the living room of the wealthy businessman Güell? The owner of textile factories introduced him as the most promising architect not only of Barcelona, but also of Catalonia. Martorell agreed and offered a job in addition to his friendship. He was not just a famous Spanish architect. Gaudí established a relationship with a professor of architecture, whose opinion in this field was considered authoritative and whose skill was brilliant. Acquaintance first with Güell, and then with Martorel, became fateful for him.
Early works
Under the influence of the new mentor, the first projects appeared, stylistically related to early modernism, richly decorated and bright. Among them is the Vicens House (residential, private), which resembles a gingerbread house, which you see in the photo below.
Gaudí completed his project in 1878, almost simultaneously with finishing his studies and receiving a diploma as an architect. The house has an almost regular quadrangular shape, the symmetry of which is broken only by the dining room and smoking room. Gaudi used many decorative elements in addition to colored ceramic tiles (a tribute to the activities of the owner of the building), namely turrets, bay windows, facade projections, balconies. The influence of the Spanish-Arabic Mudejar style is felt. Even in this early work there is a desire to create not just a house, but a real architectural ensemble, characteristic of all of Gaudi’s works. The architect and his houses are the pride of not only Barcelona. Gaudi also worked outside the Catalan capital.
In 1883-1885. El Capriccio was built in the city of Comillas, Cantabria province (pictured below). Luxury summer home clad in ceramic tile exterior and yards of brick. Not yet so ornate and fancy, but already unique and bright.
This was followed by the House of Calvet and the school at the Convent of Saint Teresa in Barcelona, the House of Botines and the neo-Gothic episcopal palace in León.
Meeting with Güell
The meeting of Gaudi and Guell is a happy occasion when fate itself pushes people towards each other. The house of a textile worker and philanthropist gathered all the intellectual color of the capital of Catalonia. However, he himself knew a lot about not only business and politics, but also art and painting. Having received an excellent education, a natural entrepreneurial spirit and at the same time modesty, he actively contributed to the promotion of social projects and the development of art. Perhaps without his help, Gaudi would not have been able to succeed as an architect. creative path would have turned out differently.
There are two versions of the meeting between the architect and the philanthropist. According to the first, the fateful meeting took place in Paris, at the World Exhibition of 1878. In one of the pavilions, he drew attention to the ambitious project of a young architect - the workers' village of Mataro. The second version is less official. After graduation, Gaudí took on any work in order to improve financial situation and at the same time gain experience. He even had to design a window display for a glove store. Guell found him doing this. He recognized the brilliant talent immediately, and soon Gaudi became a frequent guest in his house. The first work he entrusted to him was the village of Mataro. And if you believe the second version, it was at the suggestion of the industrialist that the model ended up in Paris. Soon, the future great architect Gaudí began building the Palace Güell (1885-1890). In this project, the main features of his style were reflected for the first time - the connection of structural and decorative elements with each other.
Having supported Gaudi at the very beginning of his creative career, Guell subsequently patronized him throughout his life.
Park Guell
A bright, picturesque and unusual park in the upper part of Barcelona was named after Eusebi Güell, the main initiator of its construction. This is one of Gaudí’s most interesting works; he worked on the creation of the ensemble from 1900 to 1914. Initially, it was planned to create a residential green area in the style of a garden city - a concept fashionable in England at that time. For this purpose, Güell acquired a territory of 15 hectares. The plots sold poorly; the area away from the city center did not particularly attract the attention of Barcelona residents.
Work began in 1901 and was carried out in three stages. Initially, the hillsides were strengthened and developed, then roads were laid, entrance pavilions and surrounding walls were built, and at the final stage the famous winding bench was created. More than one architect worked on all this. Gaudí recruited Julie Ballevelle and Francesco Berenguer to work. The house built according to the latter's design failed to be sold. Therefore, Guell invited Gaudi himself to live there. The architect bought it in 1906 and lived there until 1925. Nowadays the building houses a house-museum named after him. The project was not entirely successful economically, and Güell eventually sold it to the city hall, which transformed it into a park. Now this is one of the calling cards of Barcelona; photos of this park can be seen on all avenues, postcards, magnets, etc.
Casa Batllo
The house of textile magnate Josep Batllo i Casanovas was built in 1877, and in 1904 the architect Gaudi, whose works by that time were popular and known far beyond the city, began to rebuild it. He preserved the original structure of the building, which was adjacent to two neighboring buildings with side walls, and radically changed two facades (the front facade in the photo), and also redesigned the mezzanine and lower floor, creating designer furniture for them, adding a basement, an attic and a stepped roof terrace.
The light shafts inside were combined into a courtyard area, and this made it possible to improve not only lighting, but also ventilation. Many historians and art historians are of the opinion that Casa Batlló is the beginning of a new era in the work of the master. From this moment on, Gaudi's architectural solutions become exclusively his own vision of the plasticity of the world, without regard to any architectural styles.
House Milo
The master created the unusual residential building over the course of 4 years (1906-1910), now it is one of the main attractions of the capital of Catalonia (Spain, Barcelona). The house, built by the architect Gaudi at the intersection of Carrer de Provença and Passeig de Gràcia, was his last secular work, after which he devoted himself entirely to the Sagrada Familia.
The building is distinguished not only by its external originality and its internal design, which was innovative for its time. A well-thought-out ventilation system allows you to refuse to use air conditioners, and to change the decor, apartment owners can freely rearrange the interior partitions; in addition, there is an underground garage. The building has a reinforced concrete structure without load-bearing or supporting walls, which is supported by load-bearing columns. The photo below shows the courtyard of the house and the original wavy roof with windows.
Residents of Barcelona nicknamed the building “quarry” for its heavy structure and appearance of the facade, as they did not immediately imbue with a sense of beauty in this creation of Gaudi.
The architect and his houses became a real decoration of the city. Scattered in its different parts, they create the impression of integrity of the capital of Catalonia. Everywhere you look, you will feel the presence of its chief architect: from heavy lanterns to majestic domes and columns, incredible shapes of building facades.
Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family (Sagrada Familia)
Barcelona's Sagrada Familia is one of the most famous long-term construction projects in the world. Since 1882, it has been built exclusively on donations from citizens. The building became the master's most famous project and clearly demonstrates the fact that A. Gaudí is an exceptional, talented and unique architect. The Cathedral of the Holy Family was consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010, on June 7, and on the same day it was officially recognized as ready for daily worship.
The idea of its creation appeared in 1874, and already in 1881, thanks to donations from townspeople, a plot of land was acquired in the Eixample district, at that time located a few kilometers from Barcelona. The project was initially handled by the architect Villar. He saw a new church in the style of a neo-Gothic basilica in the shape of a cross, which is formed by five longitudinal and three transverse naves. However, towards the end of 1882, Villar left the construction site due to disagreements with the customer, giving way to A. Gaudí.
Work on the project of his entire life proceeded in stages. Thus, between 1883 and 1889 he completely completed the crypt. Then he decided to make major changes to the original project, and this was due to an unprecedentedly large anonymous donation. Gaudi began work on the Nativity façade in 1892, and in 1911 a project for the second was created, the construction of which began after his death.
When the great master passed away, the work was continued by his close associate Domenech Sugranes, who had been helping Gaudi since 1902. Great architects are remembered by the world for their large-scale, ambitious, unique projects. Gaudi became one of these, devoting more than 40 years of his life to the Church of the Holy Family. For years he experimented with the shape of the bells, thought out the design of the building down to the smallest detail, which was supposed to become a grandiose organ under the influence of the wind passing through certain openings in the tower, and interior decoration he imagined it as a multi-colored and bright psalm to the glory of the Lord. The photo below is a view of the temple from the inside.
Construction of the temple continues to this day; not so long ago, the Spanish authorities officially announced that it is unlikely to be completed before 2026.
A. Gaudi devoted his entire life to architecture. Despite the popularity and fame that came to him, he remained modest and lonely. Strangers claimed that he was rude, arrogant and unpleasant, while his few relatives spoke of him as wonderful and true friend. Over the years, Gaudí gradually immersed himself in Catholicism and faith, and his lifestyle also changed radically. He gave his own earnings and savings to the temple, in the crypt of which he was buried on June 12, 1926.
Who is he really? The famous Spanish architect Gaudi is the legacy of world architecture, its separate chapter. He is a man who refuted all authorities and created beyond the boundaries of styles known to art. The Catalans idolize him and the rest of the world admires him.
Hello friends. You are probably already accustomed to the fact that we tell you about interesting sights, cities, and those places on our planet that you simply cannot help but visit. This time we want to talk about Antonio Gaudi. Let's try to do without enthusiastic epithets - all of them have been said about this architect more than once. Let’s just note: without this man there would not have been the Barcelona, Spain, and even the history of world architecture that we are familiar with. Go.
Antonio Placid Guilhem Gaudí i Cornet was born in 1852 in Catalonia, in the small town of Reus. He was the most youngest child V big family boilermaker Francesc Gaudí i Serra and his wife.
It was thanks to his father’s workshop, as Antonio himself later said, that his biography as an architect began.
His brothers and sister died, and his mother later died. This is how Gaudi’s niece ended up in his care. The three of them, together with their father, settled in Barcelona.
In 1906, his father died; by that time his health was already seriously compromised, and six years later his niece died.
A star is born
By 1878, Gaudí graduated from the school of architecture. After which he began to work as a draftsman, did a lot of auxiliary work, and unsuccessfully took part in various competitions.
What was happening around? And all around there was excitement associated with the neo-Gothic style. The idea and the very forms of this direction certainly delighted Gaudi. But he drew inspiration for his projects from the works of Viollet-le-Duc, the Spanish architect Martorel and art critic John Ruskin.
Eugene Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc - French architect, restorer, art critic and architectural historian, neo-Gothic ideologist, founder of architectural restoration. Wikipedia
A turning point in the work of Antoni Gaudi was his acquaintance with Eusebi Güell, who would later become his friend.
One of the richest people in Catalonia, Guell could afford to play around a little, making his wildest dreams come true. Well, in this case Gaudi received complete freedom of expression.
For the Güell family, Antonio created designs for the city palace, the pavilions of their estate, wine cellars, a crypt, a chapel, as well as the one known to everyone.
Bench in Park Guell
Don’t forget about the wonderful examples of furniture that the designer Gaudi came up with and embodied in the houses of Güell.
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Gradually, Gaudi went beyond the framework of the then dominant styles, completely immersed himself deep into his own universe of curved surfaces and natural ornaments. And with the completion of construction at the age of 34, the architect had already become a star, whose work not everyone could afford.
For the rich people of Barcelona, he built incredibly different houses - , . They all seemed to live their own bizarre lives, incomprehensible to outsiders.
Interior of Casa Mila
Love, friends, death
The genius devoted all his time to work. They say that he loved only one woman in his life - the teacher Joseph Moreau. But she did not reciprocate. In general, it is believed that the architect was a rather arrogant and rude person. Although people from close circle they said the opposite.
In his youth, Antonio dressed like a dandy, was a gourmet, and was well versed in the performing arts. In adulthood, he completely stopped taking care of himself. Often on the streets he was mistaken for a tramp.
The latter fact became, alas, fatal for the architect. On June 7, 1926, Gaudí went to church. At the next intersection he was hit by a tram. The cab driver refused to take the unkempt old man, fearing that he would not be paid for the journey.
In the end, the masters were taken to the doorstep of a hospital for the poor, where they received absolutely primitive first aid. The next day, Gaudi was found by friends, but it was no longer possible to save him. He died on June 10 and was buried in the Sagrada Familia a few days later.
Interior of the Sagrada Familia
I wonder what last decades a program is underway to canonize Gaudi as a saint, the patron saint of architects.
Architecture
The life of the architect was fruitful and colorful. Bright, like its architecture. Many people believe that Gaudi created in the Art Nouveau style. However, in fact, his houses noticeably go beyond the boundaries of one style.
We have already mentioned the most famous works of the architect. Let's remember a few more.
One of his first works was the Vincennes House, a private residential building that Gaudí built almost immediately after receiving his diploma. And its architecture clearly shows the influence of the Spanish-Arab Mudejar style.
House Vincennes
The master's next creation was the summer mansion El Capriccio in the town of Comillas.
Construction was carried out by order of a relative of Güell. And Gaudi himself never even visited the construction site. This building is known primarily for its constructivist feature - the horizontal distribution of space.
In the territory of León stands another ode to the Gothic, created by Antonio - the Botines House. This seven-level building is practically devoid of external decor. The austere appearance is set off only by the artistic forging of the grille.
But let's go back to Barcelona. Yet this is where most of the great architect’s creations are located.
Casa Calvet is another private house built by Gaudí.
It was built as an apartment building. Here you will no longer see even a hint of Gothic. The design of the building is quite ascetic, which harmonizes well with other buildings in the area.
But take a closer look and you will see a lot of important little things: knockers on the front doors represent bedbugs, textile bobbins at the entrance remind of the owner’s profession, floral ornaments hint at the hobbies of the owners of the house.
And, of course, the symbol of Barcelona, and maybe the whole country - the Sagrada Familia or the Sagrada Familia.
This is probably the most famous long-term construction. Various architects have worked and are working on its creation. One of them was Gaudi. It was his work that formed the basis for the appearance of the building.
Gaudi made his contribution to the field of landscape architecture and small forms. These include:
- Artigas gardens
- lanterns of Barcelona's Royal Square
- Mirallas Gate and many others.
Repeatedly he worked together with other masters.
This was the life and work of a genius who changed our understanding of architecture.
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Today it is impossible to imagine Spain without the works of Antoni Gaudi. Its fantastic Art Nouveau buildings have become a symbol of Barcelona. Each of them seems to be a living being with its own character. Gaudi drew his inspiration from the nature of his native Catalonia. He was not afraid of bold experiments. Gaudi's brilliant legacy belongs not only to his homeland, but to the whole world.
early years
The future great architect was born on June 25, 1852, the fifth child in the family of a coppersmith in the suburbs of Barcelona. The boy grew up weak and sickly. After suffering from pneumonia, Antonio developed rheumatoid arthritis. As a child, he could hardly walk. However, he managed to outlive all of his brothers and sister.
Origins of creativity
Due to illness, the boy was deprived of the childhood joys of playing with peers. But he liked walks by the sea. Antonio could spend hours watching the waves, looking at the coastal rocks or trees. He also loved to watch his father’s work in the workshop. Later, these childhood impressions will be reflected in his work.
At school, the boy loved geometry most of all, but monotonous cramming was difficult for him. Antonio was a good drawer, and his drawings were published by the school magazine “Harlequin,” and he was also entrusted with making scenery for a children’s play.
Study and first orders
After graduating from school, in the fall of 1868, young Gaudi moved to Barcelona to study as an architect. After 5 years of preparatory courses, he managed to enter the High school architecture. In order for his son’s dream to come true, the father of the future great architect had to sell his lands and forge.
During his studies, Gaudi worked as a draftsman, while simultaneously studying carpentry, glass making, and metal forging. At the age of 26, Antonio received a diploma in architecture.
Carier start
After completing his studies, Gaudí opened an architectural office. His first orders were projects for a textile factory and a workers' settlement, churches and monasteries, lanterns for the city, and the interior design of a pharmacy.
Despite the fact that in his younger years Antonio was quite attractive and dressed according to latest fashion, he spent his entire life alone. He never started a family, devoting himself entirely to work.
Meanwhile, Barcelona needed serious changes. The city began to grow and rebuild. At this time, wealthy industrialists appeared who were ready to invest their capital in the new look of the city.
Temple of the Sagrada Familia
It was a great success for the young but talented architect to meet Joan Mortarel.
Antonio supplemented the original project in the form of a cross with three facades with bell towers. The eastern façade is dedicated to the Nativity of the Savior, the western façade to the Passion of Christ, and the southern façade to the Glory of God.
During the construction of the cathedral, Gaudi used inclined supports and parabolic arches. He planned a huge vault and a tower rising above it. At the top there should be a cross illuminated by spotlights - a symbol of the Savior’s sacrifice.
The architect wanted to make the temple the apotheosis of medieval Gothic. He was inspired by the ancient cathedrals of Spain, their symbolism and style. In the design of the facades, Gaudí used images of his contemporaries as Christian characters, as well as images of animals and plants of Catalonia.
Work on the cathedral completely absorbed Antonio Gaudi. After 1914 he refused other orders. During his life, the master managed to complete the façade of the Nativity, leaving a model for posterity. The temple is still being built with the money of the townspeople.
Now the Sagrada Familia is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world and the main attraction of Barcelona. In 2010, the temple was consecrated by the Pope, and services began to be held there.
It became the first private building designed by Gaudi. The house was built in the Gràcia quarter as a summer residence for the brick manufacturer Manuel Vicens y Montaner. The building project was created back in 1878, at the very beginning of the architect’s career.
The house is built of brick in the Moorish style, its facade is richly decorated with oriental ornaments made of tiled tiles. Adjacent to the house was a garden with an artificial waterfall and a rotunda, which have not survived to this day.
The building occupies 3 floors, the interior decoration was also made in oriental style. Gaudi himself thought out to the smallest detail how the house would look inside and out.
The house has a simple layout, but thanks to the abundance of decorative elements in the decoration (turrets, ledges, bay windows, balconies) it seems like a complex structure. In 2017, a museum was opened in the house.
Eusebi Güell was a wealthy industrialist, philanthropist, and politician. But above all he is known for his acquaintance with Antoni Gaudi. For a long time they had strong friendships. Thanks to Güell's support, Gaudí was able to bring many of his projects to life.
Palais Güell was one of the young architect's first major commissions. Construction began in 1886 and took 5 years. Palau Güell is located in the very center of Barcelona.
The building is reminiscent of the Doge's Palazzo in Venice. The walls are lined with gray marble, which gives the facade a strict and solemn appearance. Noteworthy are two large arches with metal gates with the owner’s initials.
Between them there is a forged sculpture - the flag of Catalonia with a phoenix. Through the gate, carriages could enter the stables located in the basement. At the second floor level there is a gallery designed in the style of the Italian Renaissance.
Interior interior with elements oriental style, Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau amazed with its luxury and sophistication of decoration.
The center of the house is the hall, rising to the top floor. At the top it is closed by a huge dome with holes for sunlight, reminiscent of a starry sky.
Chimneys on the roofs, lined with ceramics or natural stone, resemble fancy fairy mushrooms.
Behind the house there is a courtyard - an atrium. On this side the facade is decorated more modestly than on the outside. There is a small covered terrace and balcony adjacent to the back wall.
The palace was the main residence of the industrialist's family. Concerts, receptions, exhibitions were held here, and art collections were also stored here. The Güell family owned the house until 1936. It was taken away by the revolutionary authorities and given over to police housing. In 1945 it became the property of the Barcelona municipality, and now it houses a museum.
Park Guell
Located in the upper part of Barcelona on Carmel Hill, created in 1900 - 1914. Initially, on this site, bought by Eusebi Güell, it was planned to build a garden and mansions for rich people. However, the distance from the city center did not allow the plan to come true - wealthy citizens did not want to live on the outskirts. A total of 3 residential buildings were built. One was bought by the lawyer Trias i Domenic, the architect Gaudi himself lived in the second, the third was bought by the owner Eusebi Güell and became his residence.
When creating the park, Gaudi showed himself to be a talented landscape designer. The park consists of green spaces, architectural structures and residential areas. Gaudí's buildings follow natural forms. He created a comprehensive road system using the local landscape.
At the entrance to the park, visitors are greeted by fairy-tale houses where the administration is located.
On the middle platform there is a mosaic medallion with the flag of Catalonia. Having gone upstairs, the visitor finds himself in a hall of 100 columns, reminiscent of a Greek one.
Business card parka - wriggling in the form sea snake a long bench decorated with a mosaic of colored shards. In the design Gaudi used broken dishes, which was brought to him from all over the city. The bench has an anatomical shape, making it comfortable to sit on. To do this, Gaudí forced a worker to sit on a mock-up of a clay bench and measured the imprinted curves of his body.
Since the area was originally deserted, many plants and trees were planted in the park. Walking paths pass through quaint galleries in the shape of bird's nests and caves, where you can relax on benches and hide from the sun. All architectural objects are close to natural and form a single whole with the park complex.
Subsequently, Güell's heirs transferred the park to the city hall. Gaudí's former mansion is now home to his house museum.
Mature years and death of Gaudi
During his life, Antonio Gaudi created many masterpieces of architecture that decorated Catalonia. Unfortunately, some of them have not reached us, and those that have survived are now under the auspices of UNESCO.
The great architect devoted the second half of his life entirely to the construction of the Sagrada Familia Cathedral. He became very religious. The former dandy and gourmet began to dress poorly and carelessly, and stopped taking care of himself. Gaudi was a vegetarian and ate very sparingly. Often on the street he was mistaken for a tramp.
Death of Gaudi
On June 7, 1926, an accident occurred - Antonio Gaudi was hit by a tram. At first, the master was mistaken for a tramp and taken to a hospital for the poor. Gaudi suffered broken ribs and a traumatic brain injury. After two days, the architect was found by his friend, the chaplain of the Sagrada Familia, and he was transferred to a separate room. On June 10, Gaudi died and was buried in the crypt of the unfinished temple.
Canonization
Since 1992, there has been a campaign in Spain for the canonization of Gaudi. He is called an architect from God. It is believed that during the construction of the Sagrada Familia, higher powers directly gave ideas and inspired the master. In 2003, the Vatican began the official process for Gaudí's canonization. However, this process is hampered by an insufficient number of miracles. Perhaps the architect will be declared blessed, but so far this issue has not been resolved by the Vatican.
In any case, the memory of the great Antonio Gaudi lives on in the form of his amazing buildings, which transformed not only Spain, but also world architecture.