Have you attended a bullfight? What are you thoughts on this activity? Sincerely, Dani and Claudia ClaudiaConfessionsCultureDaniWho is Antoni Gaudí you may not be familiar with him, Antoni Gaudí is perhaps the most prolific architect to ever come from Spain. His work is often featured on travel blogs and in tourism photos, so you’ve probably seen much of it already. If you’ll be visiting Barcelona (or a few other places around Cataluña and the rest of Spain) you’ll want to know his story, influences, and legacy so let’s get you up to speed on the basics… Who is he? If you’ve visited Barcelona (or even seen photos of the city) you’ve likely come across the famous architect Antoni Gaudí’s work time and time again—hopefully not without realizing it! Whether or not you’re familiar with this Gaudí himself, you’re sure to remember a work of his if you’ve ever seen one.
Gaudí was an incredibly unique architect, often recognized as one of the leaders of Modernism, who put excruciating importance into every detail of the structure, from the ironwork to the stained glass to the carpentry. Born in the autonomous Turkey Email List region of Cataluña (exact town under dispute) on June 25, 1852, much of Gaudí’s early years were spent contemplating nature at his family’s summer home in Ruidoms due to rheumatic problems that kept him for partaking in more active childhood activities. Alongside the hands-on experience he got assisting his father and grandfather in their coppersmith workshop, Gaudí’s fascination with nature is credited as one of the most important influences on his unique architectural style.
Gaudí regularly defied conventional architectural practices, such as his use of the ‘equilibrated system’ used in the construction of Casa Batlló and the Casa Milà. Through the ‘equilibrated system,’ he avoided the need for internal bracing or external buttressing, instead constructing diagonal thrusts and lightweight tile vaults, which gave both of these buildings the look of clusters of tile lily pads instead of traditional floors. What should you know about him? A revolutionary of his time, Gaudí was not always revered as such. In fact, when he studied at the Provincial School of Architecture in Barcelona (1868-1878, his studies were interrupted by military service) he generally did not receive high marks and regularly missed classes.