Barcelona - more influences of Gaudi.

The man himself.

In an earlier blog entry I mentioned Gaudi and his creation of Park Guell.   Gaudi's work didn’t stop there and his designs have influenced much of the face of Barcelona.  His work is admired by architects around the World as being one of the most unique and distinctive architectural styles.

Antoni Gaudi was born in Reus in 1852 and received his Architectural degree in 1878. From the very beginning his designs were different from those of his contemporaries.

His work was greatly influenced by forms of nature and this is reflected by the use of curved construction stones, twisted iron sculptures, and organic-like forms.  Gaudi also adorned many of his buildings with coloured tiles arranged in mosaic patterns adding another dimension to the buildings. 

Wherever you turn, when walking through the city, you will want to stop and admire his work.  Barcelona is a real mixture of old and new styles of buildings, making the city itself is a mosaic of architectures, with the buildings being the coloured tiles.

Something a little more modern. 

The building of the Church of the Holy Family (Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia) was started in 1883 and Gaudi became the official architect.  Unfortunately, Gaudi died in an accident in 1926 and the cathedral remaining unfinished.  However, construction work started again in 1979 and much is based on Gaudi's original plans - it is estimated it will be at least another 30 years until it is finally finished!

These last few shots are of the Church of the Holy Family, still under construction.