A touch of Gaudí in Barcelona

Text and pix by Aysha Maryam Cassim

Europe, but only a few have left me as quite enamoured as Barcelona. It is a city shrouded in beauty and mystery. 

Catalonia’s capital Barcelona is Spain’s second largest metropolis. It’s not just the “tapas” or the beach that lures the travellers to this Mediterranean city. Barcelona brims with life day and night with aficionados indulging in panoply of interests. It’s dynamic and artistic. The grandeur and artistry of its architectural splendours stand out, making Barcelona a haven for artisans. The edifices that loom large over Barcelona defines the city’s aesthetic by reflecting the Catalan character and soul. 

‘Modernismo’ is the Spanish term that connoting the Art Nouveau era in Barcelona. In the beginning of the 20th century, in the age of modernism, Barcelona underwent an architectural facelift. Antoni Gaudí, the visionary who is widely regarded as an architectural genius, was behind this movement. 

There is a profound connection between Gaudí and Barcelona. It’s a remarkable story of friendship. Gaudí was an audacious architect who submerged himself in a strange process of artistic creation. He transformed and recreated Barcelona with his distinctive, individualistic style. Gaudí played around with geometrical forms and colours. He incorporated intricate designs, ornate facades, vibrant mosaics, biomorphic sculptures and paraboloids into his architectural splendours. His creations were manifestations of art and thinking. 

Today, Gaudí’s masterpieces in Barcelona bespeak the ingenuity of his eccentric and surreal imagination. His presence and essence is all over the city. Year-round, flocks of sightseers who visit the Catalonian Capital gape at the greatness of Gaudí. An excursion through the Quadrat d’Or heritage district will take you a tour around some of Gaudí’s elaborately curved and decorated buildings that belong to Catalan art nouveau. Mentioned below are a few of Gaudí’s wonders that should not be missed during your stay in Barcelona.

La Sagrada Familia

“It is not a disappointment that I will not be able to finish the temple. I will grow old, but others will come after me. What must be always preserved is the spirit of the work; its life will depend on the generations that transmit this spirit and bring it to life” – A. Gaudí.

The soaring towers of La Sagrada Familia is the most visited monument in Spain. The facades of this extraordinary structure have become the symbol of Barcelona that adorns a galore of souvenirs. This colossus church began its construction in 1882. The unfinished church, which is scheduled to be completed by 2020, is currently surrounded by scaffolding and cranes creating a monstrous eyesore for the photographers. 

But that does not stop the visitors from admiring the most innovative design features of this mighty structure. The 18 conical towers that ascend around the church have a special significance imbued with Christian symbolism. It is believed that Gaudí came from a solid religious background and shared a deep-rooted Catalan patriotism. 

Park Güell

Parc Güell is a green oasis in the midst of the cosmopolitan Barcelona. It’s not just a building but a much treasured leisure park located in an enchanted setting with stunning views over the sea and the Barcelonian plains. UNESCO declared it a Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 1984. 

Park Güell is one of the most apt representations of the industrial elites of Barcelona at the dawn of 20th century. When Eusebio Güell acquired a mountainous land, he entrusted Gaudí with the plan to create an estate for well-off families in a large property. He made use of his prodigious mastery of forms and materials to recreate a residential estate. The housing development project that was to include 60 lots for luxury homes located away from central Barcelona was halted in 1914. After Eusebio’s death it was inaugurated as a public park in 1926.

Gaudí conceived his designs with a strong religious, organic and urban sense. The mammoth gingerbread houses, multi-coloured lizards, tree shaped columns and vibrant-hued mosaics lend the entire space a magical aura, giving its visitors a sensation of stepping into a fairy tale city.

Antoni Gaudí conceived his designs with a strong religious, organic and urban sense. He experimented with architectural elements to create a harmony between art and nature. Josep Maria Jujo, Antoni Gaudí’s partner, built some of the most admired elements of Gaudí’s work such as the famous trencadis mosaic tile bench at Park Güell. 

Passeig de Gràcia

Passeig de Gràcia, the most elegant street in the city, connects the Plaça de Catalunya with Gràcia. It’s an extravagant shopping boulevard where you could find high-end designer boutiques and some of the town’s best restaurants. This fancy avenue, located in the Example district of Barcelona, also hosts two of Gaudí’s buildings, Casa Batilló and Casa Mila better known as Casa Pedrera.

Casa Batilló

Casa Batilló is located in the heart of the city. It is considered to be the most ambitious and emblematic work of the brilliant Catalan architect. The façade is a dramatic spectacle in the city that attracts the eye of the beholder. It is covered with fascinating embroidery of stained glass and ceramic discs.

There is a reason why Casa Batilló is a masterpiece of masonry and engineering. Gaudí has used organic elements and symbols to render this house into a magical wonderland. Iridescent colours, spherical forms and structures that resemble ribs and breastbones of animals are some of the elements that you could observe as you move along from one end to the other of this house.

Casa Milà—La Pedrera

Casa Milà (also known as La Pedrera) is one of Gaudí’s classic residential buildings. The breath-taking, undulating facade of Casa Milà is built with calcareous stone to resemble an open quarry. Hence, the name La Pedrera (the stone quarry). 

The rooftop of La Pedrera can take your breath away with its mind-blowing architecture. Its singularity and exceptional artistic and heritage value has earned Casa Milà a major recognition among historians. In 1984, La Pedrera was inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List.