The brilliant and innovative Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926) was the most prominent architect in the short-lived Art Nouveau movement (‘Modernisme’ in Catalunya), around the turn of the 20th century. His buildings are stunning but he was a difficult man to work with: arrogant and confrontational with no respect for time, budget, or planning regulations.
Nearly all his work is in Barcelona and we shall explore it under three headings. First, we shall look at some of his apartment buildings, like Casa Batlló and Casa Milà. Second, we shall examine his work for the only client ever to come back for a second project: Eusebi Güell, a man with bottomless pockets and limitless patience. Most prominent here are the Palau Güell and Park Güell.
The final section will cover the Sagrada Familia, the church which Gaudí worked on from 1883 until his death in 1926. While coronavirus may disrupt the timetable, the centenary of his death is the target date for completion of the structural work. Right now, the towers still to be completed are growing very quickly.
