Antoni Gaudí
Antoni Gaudí in 1878
Personal information
Name	Antoni Gaudí
Birth date	June 25, 1852(1852-06-25)
Birth place	Reus, or Riudoms[1][2]
Date of death	June 10, 1926 (aged 73)
Place of death	Barcelona, (Catalonia)
Work
Significant buildings	Sagrada Família, Casa Milà, Casa Batlló
Significant projects	Parc Güell, Colònia Güell

Antoni Plàcid Guillem Gaudí i Cornet (Riudoms or Reus, 25 June 1852 – Barcelona, 10 June 1926) – in English usually referred to by the Spanish translation of his name, Antonio Gaudí – was a Catalan^[3] architect who belonged to the Modernist style (Art Nouveau) movement and was famous for his unique style and highly individualistic designs. Events 524 - Battle of Vézeronce, the Franks defeat the Burgundians Year 1852 ( MDCCCLII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Reus is the capital of the comarca of Baix Camp, in the province of Tarragona, in Catalonia, Spain Riudoms is a town in the comarca of Baix Camp, province of Tarragona, in Catalonia, Spain, located about five kilometers Events 1190 - Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the Sally River while leading an army to Jerusalem Year 1926 ( MCMXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Barcelona ( Catalan bəɾsəˈlonə Spanish baɾθeˈlona is the capital and most populous city of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia Catalonia (Cataluña Catalunya Aranese: Catalonha) is an Autonomous Community in the northeast part of Spain. The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (official Catalan nameTemplo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia "Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family" often simply Casa Milà, better known as La Pedrera ( Catalan for 'The Quarry' is a building designed by the Catalan Architect, Antoni Gaudí, Casa Batlló ('kazə bəʎ'ʎo bəd'ʎo in Catalan) is a building restored by Antoni Gaudí and Josep Maria Jujol, built in the year 1877 and remodelled Park Güell is a garden complex with architectural elements situated on the hill of El Carmel in the Gràcia district of Barcelona, The Church of Colònia Güell, Antoni Gaudí 's great unfinished work was built as a place of worship for the people in a manufactured suburb in Santa Coloma Riudoms is a town in the comarca of Baix Camp, province of Tarragona, in Catalonia, Spain, located about five kilometers Reus is the capital of the comarca of Baix Camp, in the province of Tarragona, in Catalonia, Spain Events 524 - Battle of Vézeronce, the Franks defeat the Burgundians Year 1852 ( MDCCCLII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Barcelona ( Catalan bəɾsəˈlonə Spanish baɾθeˈlona is the capital and most populous city of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia Events 1190 - Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the Sally River while leading an army to Jerusalem Year 1926 ( MCMXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Catalonia (Cataluña Catalunya Aranese: Catalonha) is an Autonomous Community in the northeast part of Spain. The term architecture (from Greek αρχιτεκτονικήarchitektoniki) can be used to mean a process a profession or documentation Catalan Modernisme (not to be confused with Modernism) was the Catalan equivalent to a number of fin-de-siècle movements such as Symbolism, Art Nouveau ( nu vo anglicised /ˈɑːt nuːvəu/ ( French for 'new art' also known as Jugendstil ( German for 'youth style' is an international

Biography

Birthplace

Antoni Gaudi was born in the province of Tarragona in southern Catalonia in 1852. Tarragona is a province of eastern Spain, in the southern part of the autonomous community of Catalonia. Catalonia (Cataluña Catalunya Aranese: Catalonha) is an Autonomous Community in the northeast part of Spain. While there is some dispute as to his birthplace – official documents state that he was born in the town of Reus, whereas others claim he was born in Riudoms, a small village 3 miles (5 km) from Reus,^[2] – it is certain that he was baptized in Reus a day after his birth. Reus is the capital of the comarca of Baix Camp, in the province of Tarragona, in Catalonia, Spain Riudoms is a town in the comarca of Baix Camp, province of Tarragona, in Catalonia, Spain, located about five kilometers Reus is the capital of the comarca of Baix Camp, in the province of Tarragona, in Catalonia, Spain In Christianity, baptism ( Greek, "immersing" "performing Ablutions " is the ritual act with the use of water by which one is admitted The artist's parents, Francesc Gaudí Serra and Antònia Cornet Bertran, both came from families of metalsmiths. It was this exposure to nature at an early age that influenced him to incorporate natural shapes into his later work. ^[4]

Higher education

Gaudi, as an architecture student at the Escola Tècnica Superior d'Arquitectura in Barcelona from 1873 to 1877, achieved only mediocre grades but did well in his "Trial drawings and projects". Barcelona ( Catalan bəɾsəˈlonə Spanish baɾθeˈlona is the capital and most populous city of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia ^[5] After five years of work, he was awarded the title of architect in 1878. As he signed the title, Elies Rogent declared, "Qui sap si hem donat el diploma a un boig o a un geni: el temps ens ho dirà" ("Who knows if we have given this diploma to a nut or to a genius. Time will tell. ")

The newly named architect immediately began to plan and design and would remain affiliated with the school his entire life.

Early career

• 1878–1879: Lampposts for the Plaça Reial at Barcelona;
• 1878: Showcase for glove manufacturer Comella. Via this work, used at the World's Fair in Paris, Eusebi Güell came to know the architect. The third Paris World's Fair, called an Exposition Universelle in French, was held from May 1 though to November 10, 1878 Count Eusebi Güell (sometimes given in the hispanicized form Eusebio Güell, sometimes de Güell) was a Catalan patriarch who profited ^[6]
• 1878–1882: Several designs for the Obrera Mataronense at Mataró. Mataró (Iluro is the capital and largest city of the comarca of the Maresme, in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia Autonomous Only a very small part of these plans was built, but it shows Gaudí's first use of parabolic arches, here in a wooden structure.
• 1883–1885: Casa Vicens;
• 1883–1885: Villa "El Capricho" at Comillas (Santander);
• 1884: Finca Güell: Entrance pavilion and stables for the palace at Pedralbes (first completed building for Eusebi Güell);
• 1884–1891: Completion of the crypt of the Sagrada Família (the crypt had been started by the architect Francisco del Villar in 1882, who had to abandon the project in 1883);
• 1885–1889: Palau Güell;
• 1887–1893: Episcopal palace at Astorga;
• 1889–1894: Colegio Teresiano;
• 1891–1893: Outer walls of the absis of the Sagrada Família;
• 1892–1894: Casa de los Botines at León. Casa Vicens is a family residence in Barcelona ( Catalonia) designed by Antoni Gaudí and built for industrialist Manuel Vicens Comillas is a small township and Municipality in the northern reaches of Spain, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. The port city of Santander is the capital of the autonomous community of Cantabria situated on the north coast of Spain between Asturias (to the west and The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (official Catalan nameTemplo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia "Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family" often simply The Palau Güell is a town mansion (translated literally a "palace" in Barcelona, Catalonia, designed by the Catalan Architect Antoni Astorga is a small city and Episcopal see, located in the province of León of Spain. The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (official Catalan nameTemplo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia "Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family" often simply Casa de los Botines (built 1892 - 1894) is a modernist building set in León Spain designed by Antonio Gaudí. History León was founded in the 1st century BC by the Roman legion Legio VI ''Victrix''.

Later years

Gaudi was an ardent Catholic, to the point that in his later years, he abandoned secular work and devoted his life to Catholicism and his Sagrada Família. The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (official Catalan nameTemplo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia "Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family" often simply He designed it to have 18 towers, 12 for the 12 apostles, 4 for the 4 evangelists, one for Mary and one for Jesus. Soon after, his closest family and friends began to die. His works slowed to a halt, and his attitude changed. One of his closest family members – his niece Rosa Egea – died in 1912, only to be followed by a "faithful collaborator, Francesc Berenguer Mestres" two years later. After these tragedies, Barcelona fell on hard times, economically. The construction of La Sagrada Família slowed; the construction of La Colonia Güell ceased altogether. The Church of Colònia Güell, Antoni Gaudí 's great unfinished work was built as a place of worship for the people in a manufactured suburb in Santa Coloma Four years later, Eusebi Güell, his patron, died. ^[7]

Perhaps it was because of this unfortunate sequence of events that Gaudi changed. He became reluctant to talk with reporters or have his picture taken and solely concentrated on his masterpiece, La Sagrada Família. ^[7]

On June 7 ^[8] 1926 Gaudi was run over by a tram. Events 1099 - The First Crusade: The Siege of Jerusalem begins Year 1926 ( MCMXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A tram, tramcar, trolley, trolley car, or streetcar is a railborne vehicle, of lighter weight and construction than a Train Because of his ragged attire and empty pockets, many cab drivers refused to pick him up for fear that he would be unable to pay the fare. He was eventually taken to a pauper's hospital in Barcelona. Nobody recognized the injured artist until his friends found him the next day. When they tried to move him into a nicer hospital, Gaudi refused, reportedly saying "I belong here among the poor. " He died three days later on June 10, 1926, half of Barcelona mourning his death. Events 1190 - Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the Sally River while leading an army to Jerusalem Year 1926 ( MCMXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He was buried in the midst of La Sagrada Família. ^[7]

Although Gaudi was constantly changing his mind and recreating his blue prints, the only existing copy of his last recorded blue prints were destroyed by the anarchists in 1938 at the height of Franco's invasion of Barcelona. This has made it very difficult for his workers to complete the cathedral in the same fashion as Gaudí most likely would have wished. It is for this that Gaudí is known to many as "God's Architect". La Sagrada Família is now being completed but differences between his work and the new additions can be seen.

As of 2007, completion of the Sagrada Familía is planned for 2026. However, this may prove wildly optimistic if the worst fears of many eminent engineers and architects are realized. These have pointed out the structural dangers posed by a tunnel for a TGV-style high-speed rail, which would run within feet of the church’s foundations^[9][1]; one might note the precedent of one metro tunnel in Barcelona’s Carmel district that collapsed and destroyed an entire city block on the 27th of February 2005. Others of Gaudí's works threatened by the city center route chosen by Barcelona's mayor Jordi Hereu for the new rail line include Casa Batlló and Casa Milà. A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government Jordi Hereu i Boher (born June 14, 1965 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain) is the current Mayor of Barcelona. Casa Batlló ('kazə bəʎ'ʎo bəd'ʎo in Catalan) is a building restored by Antoni Gaudí and Josep Maria Jujol, built in the year 1877 and remodelled Casa Milà, better known as La Pedrera ( Catalan for 'The Quarry' is a building designed by the Catalan Architect, Antoni Gaudí,

Artistic style

Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece, Sagrada Família

Gaudí's first works were designed in the style of gothic architecture and traditional Spanish architectural modes, but he soon developed his own distinct sculptural style. The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (official Catalan nameTemplo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia "Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family" often simply See also Gothic art Gothic architecture is a style of Architecture which flourished during the high and late medieval period. French architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc, who promoted an evolved form of gothic architecture, proved a major influence on Gaudí. Eugène Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc ( January 27 1814 &ndash September 17, 1879) was a French Architect and theorist famous for his "restorations" But the student surpassed the master architect and contrived highly original designs – irregular and fantastically intricate. Some of his greatest works, most notably La Sagrada Família, have an almost hallucinatory power.

In Gaudi's hanging model a system of threads represents columns, arches, walls and vaults. Sachets with lead shot resemble the weight of small building parts.

Gaudi spent ten years working on studies for the design, and developing a new method of structural calculation based on a stereostatic model built with cords and small sacks of pellets. The outline of the church was traced on a wooden board (1:10 scale), which was then placed on the ceiling of a small house next to the work site. Cords were hung from the points where columns were to be placed. Small sacks filled with pellets, weighing one ten-thousandth part of the weight the arches would have to support, were hung from each catenaric arch formed by the cords. Photographs were taken of the resulting model from various angles, and the exact shape of the church's structure was obtained by turning them upside-down obtaining therefore the form, absolutely precise and exact, of the structure of the building, without having to have conducted an operation of calculation and without possibility of error. The forms of cords corresponded to the lines of tension of the prim structure and when inverting the photo, the lines of pressure of the compressed structure were obtained. An absolutely exact and simple method, giving an example of the intuitive and elementary methods that Gaudi applied in its architecture and that allowed him to obtain balanced forms very similar to which nature offers.

Interests

Gaudí, throughout his life, studied nature's angles and curves and incorporated them into his designs. Instead of relying on geometric shapes, he mimicked the way men stand upright. The hyperboloids and paraboloids he borrowed from nature were easily reinforced by steel rods and allowed his designs to resemble elements from the environment. In Mathematics, a hyperboloid is a Quadric, a type of surface in three Dimensions described by the equation {x^2 \over a^2} + In Mathematics, a paraboloid is a Quadric surface of special kind

Because of his rheumatism, the artist observed a strict vegetarian diet, used homeopathic drug therapy, underwent water therapy, and hiked regularly. This article has been the subject of edit wars and has been placed on probation Water therapy is the use of Water to improve health According to Alternative medicine advocates one form of water therapy is the consuming of a gutful of water Long walks, besides suppressing his rheumatism, further allowed him to experience nature.

Gaudí loved for his work to be created by nature as he used concrete leaves and vine windows to create his ideas for him, so his work is not just because of him but because of nature as well.

Popularity

Gaudí's originality was at first ridiculed by his peers. Indeed, he was first only supported by the rich industrialist Eusebi Güell. Count Eusebi Güell (sometimes given in the hispanicized form Eusebio Güell, sometimes de Güell) was a Catalan patriarch who profited His fellow citizens referred to the Casa Milà as La Pedrera ("the quarry"), and George Orwell, who stayed in Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War, admittedly loathed his work. Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950 who used the Pseudonym George Orwell, was an English writer The Spanish Civil War was a major conflict in Spain that started after an attempted Coup d'état committed by parts of the army against the government of As time passed, though, his work became more famous, up to the point that he is now considered one of history's most original architects. . .

Social and political influences

The opportunities afforded by Catalonia's socioeconomic and political influences were endless. Catalans such as Antoni Gaudí often showcased the region's diverse art techniques in their works. By mimicking nature, such artists symbolically pushed back the province's ever-increasing industrial society.

Gaudí, among others, promoted the Catalan movement for regaining sovereignty from Spain by incorporating elements of Catalan culture in his designs. Catalan Nationalism, or Catalanism (from Catalanisme in Catalan) is a political movement advocating for either further political ^[3] Gaudí was involved in politics since he supported the Catalanist political party Regionalist League. Regionalist League (in Catalan: Lliga Regionalista) was a political party of Catalonia, Spain, that appeared thanks to the triumph of the candidacy For example, in 1924 Spanish authorities (ruled by the dictator Primo de Rivera) closed Barcelona's churches in order to prevent a nationalist celebration (September 11th, National Day of Catalonia), Gaudí attended to Saints Justus and Pastor's church and was arrested by the Spanish police for answering in Catalan ^{[10] [11]}. Miguel Primo de Rivera y Orbaneja 2 Marqués de Estella ( Jerez de la Frontera, January 8, 1870 - Paris, Barcelona ( Catalan bəɾsəˈlonə Spanish baɾθeˈlona is the capital and most populous city of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia On September 11, Catalonia ( Spain) commemorates the 1714 Siege of Barcelona defeat during the War of the Spanish Succession. Saints Justus and Pastor (d ca 304 are venerated as Christian Martyrs According to their Acts, they were two Schoolboys (Justus was 13 years

Major works

View of the Park Güell, El Carmel, Barcelona. Park Güell is a garden complex with architectural elements situated on the hill of El Carmel in the Gràcia district of Barcelona, Barri del Carmel (also El Carmel or simply Carmel) is a Neighbourhood in the district of Horta-Guinardó, in Barcelona, Catalonia Barcelona ( Catalan bəɾsəˈlonə Spanish baɾθeˈlona is the capital and most populous city of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia

• Casa Vicens (1883–1885)
• Palau Güell (1885–1889)
• College of the Teresianas (1888–1890)
• Crypt of the Church of Colònia Güell (1898–1916)
• Casa Calvet (1899–1904)
• Casa Batlló (1905–1907)
• Casa Milà (La Pedrera) (1905–1907)
• Park Güell (1900–1914)
• Sagrada Família Nativity façade and Crypt of the Sagrada Família church (1884–1926)

See also the List of Gaudi Buildings. Casa Vicens is a family residence in Barcelona ( Catalonia) designed by Antoni Gaudí and built for industrialist Manuel Vicens The Palau Güell is a town mansion (translated literally a "palace" in Barcelona, Catalonia, designed by the Catalan Architect Antoni The Church of Colònia Güell, Antoni Gaudí 's great unfinished work was built as a place of worship for the people in a manufactured suburb in Santa Coloma Casa Calvet is a building designed by Antoni Gaudí for a textile manufacturer which served as both a commercial property (in the basement and on the ground floor and a residence Casa Batlló ('kazə bəʎ'ʎo bəd'ʎo in Catalan) is a building restored by Antoni Gaudí and Josep Maria Jujol, built in the year 1877 and remodelled Casa Milà, better known as La Pedrera ( Catalan for 'The Quarry' is a building designed by the Catalan Architect, Antoni Gaudí, Park Güell is a garden complex with architectural elements situated on the hill of El Carmel in the Gràcia district of Barcelona, The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (official Catalan nameTemplo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia "Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family" often simply

Influence

• Gaudí's abandoned plans for a New York skyscraper hotel were re-proposed for the redesign of the World Trade Center after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Hotel Attraction was a proposed project by architect Antoni Gaudí, for a Skyscraper in New York City. The World Trade Center in New York City, United States (sometimes informally the WTC or Twin Towers) was a complex of seven buildings in Lower Manhattan ^[12]
• In 1992, five artists founded La Asociación pro Beatificación de Antoni Gaudí. The secular association has since pushed for the Roman Catholic church to declare Gaudí blessed. Beatification (from Latin beatus, blessed via Greek μακάριος makarios) is a recognition accorded by the Catholic church ^[13]
• Gaudí's life and work inspired The Alan Parsons Project to create the 1987 album Gaudí. The Alan Parsons Project was a British Progressive rock band active between 1975 and 1990 founded by Eric Woolfson and Alan Parsons. Gaudi is an album by The Alan Parsons Project. As the band's last album it was released in 1987

Notes

References

• Martinell, César. Antoni Gaudí. Barcelona, 1975 (English edition).

External links

• Casa Batllo (multilingual; requires Adobe Flash)
• Sagrada Família (multilingual)
• La Pedrera (multilingual; requires Adobe Flash)
• Gaudi: Designer (in English and French)
• Hyperboloid structures by GaudiPDF (420 KiB)
• Antoni Plàcid Gaudí i Cornet information at Structurae
• Antoni Gaudí at the Open Directory Project
• Antoni Gaudí i Cornet
• Gaudí's arrestPDF (142 KiB) (Catalan)