Barcelona’s most favorite son is without question, Antoni Gaudi, a modernists architect with imagination, creativity and an almost whimsical approach to his creations well ahead of his time.
Students of all ages study his designs with curiosity and joy. These youngsters are from a nearby elementary school.
Fortunately, wealthy Barcelona industrialist, Eusebi Güell had the faith and finances to allow Gaudi to bring some of his creation to life. The Palau Güell finished in 1889. Just of Las Ramblas was his patron city residence.
Now his designs are characterized by chimneys of home-made rock, a ceramic recycled for other purpose. An elaborate iron grills work.
The El Divos devout their religious so the village is surrender of his trade mark is across in one form or another.
Sandra de Miguel Peralta: Now we are in one of three of the most important modernist buildings located in Barcelona. The modernist took place between 1888 and 1920’s and these three buildings were built at the beginning of the 20th century.
This is called the cold water because the three main modernist architect, Puig i Cadafalch, Domènech i Montaner, and Elnavi were working at the same time at the beginning of the 20th century in Eastern Europe.
It’s relatively easy why Gaudi’s most of he attention when compared to the other modernist on the block. But they ach did some impressive work in the era.
St. George is the patron of Barcelona so in almost all the modernist work somewhere you can find St. George slaying a dragon or rescuing a princess.
2002 was the year of Gaudi. His 150th Anniversary so many of the buildings that might not be open to the public made their arrangements to allow the public and to appreciate his work.
An extremely popular attraction, lines for entrance to the most of the buildings were pretty significant.
Female 1: It’s different and beautiful. You’ll never se this anywhere else.
Female 2: It’s quite amazing. I think they are very brave that they let him build these things. You know like hundred of years ago. I think it’s amazing that they can build this kind of things also.
Female 3: I think it’s very amazing to know that the people at that period were able to do something so unexpected and so different from anything else. In fact I’m from Paris and we don’t have that in Paris from that time.
Female 4: I think these are fantastic, individualistic architect. Really beautiful and I love this organic limes.
Interviewer: Which buildings do you like the best?
Female 4: Maybe this one I’m going to, Casa Batlló. I’m not sure. I haven’t seen them all.
Interviewer: Alright.
Female 4: Perhaps in Güell Park and it’s really beautiful. I like the way he used his mosaic and I like the way he uses used materials. He’s very advanced for his time thinking like that, recycling.
Male 1: He’s very, very different because among the other architect, you have to think that in the last century, he was so ahead for his time that it’s really amazing to think that there was someone that was available to let him do this strange thing from the time that he was and it’s very, very unique.
Female 5: I think it’s beautiful otherwise I wasn’t so crazy to join these lines to see the building.
Male 2: Organic poach very attractive in my point of view and there is no straight lines and…
Female 5: It’s unusual and is should say he main attraction and…
Male 2: Its feeling. It’s all about feeling.
Park Güell is in the hills of a property that used to be outside the city. Gaudi’s Patron, Eusebi Güell planned a housing development here sixty lots in what we consider the suburbs today.
The project was radical for its time and a real estate venture, a financial disaster. To their credit, the Barcelona city council bought a property in 1922 and in the following year, converted it to a musical park, saving an important part of Gaudi architectural history.
Gaudi took advantage of these slopes and going to rule a land for his designs here with the main entrance created to impress prospective buyers of the properties and the hills above.
This columned hall was designed originally as the sales area where the public park and recreation area above.
The benches that bordered the recreation area were actually designed by one of Gaudi’s assistant and restored after the city took over the park.
Pathway’s Bridge is as simulative cave are throughout the park all making use of local stone and natural materials, a serendipities display of his creative thing.
In 1878, when Gaudi graduated from Barcelona’s School of Architecture, it’s reported that the director announced to his fellow teachers, “Gentlemen, we are either in the present of a genius or mad man.”
Manifestation of building’s most desired fantasy or genius is the epic church of the Sagrada Familia.
Began by Gaudi in 1883 is still under construction with no specific agreed date of completion; a massive project that scoped imagination and complexity of which can be truly appreciated by being there.
Gaudi’s work on a project came to an unceremonious end he was struck by a street car in 1926. Fortunately, his plans and dream of the remarkable creation didn’t die with him.
Transcription by:
Scribe4you Transcription Services