Maria Crippa

Raised during the Industrial Revolution, Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926) strove to distinguish and reaffirm the identity of his native Catalonia as Spain and the rest of Europe modernized. Early neo-Gothic designs were the stepping-stone to the mature, original style that came to be synonymous with his name. Incorporating bold colors and odd bits of material into his designs, Gaudí created inspiring, visionary buildings and helped establish Barcelona (most notably with the still-unfinished Sagrada Família cathedral) as a city of the world.

Hrdý Katalánec zjednodušil fakultatívny program svetových cestoviek a takmer celé svoje dielo sústredil do trojmiliónovej Barcelony. Domy pre zámožných mešťanov (Casa Batlló, Casa Milä), veľký Giiellov park a slávny kostol na počesť Svätej rodiny (Sagrada Familia) - sú všetko stavby, ktoré patria k "povinným" barcelonským zastávkam. Geniálny konštruktér sa vyhýbal rysovacej doske a pravému uhlu. Jeho výkresy pôsobia ako impresionistické skice a výsledné realizácie zase ako symfónia oslavujúca prírodu. Gaudího stavby sa preslávili ako príjemné oázy v púšti účelových budov, ako drahokamy v jednotvárnej šedi radových domov. Už počas života ho velebili ako Danteho architektúry. Do 3. tisícročia vstupuje jeho božská architektúra v obdivuhodnej kondícii.

God’s architect: Gaudí’s ravishing symbiosis between built environment and natural world From the towering Sagrada Família to the shimmering, textured facade of Casa Batlló and the enchanting landscape of Park Güell, it’s easy to see why Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) gained the epithet “God’s architect”. With fluid forms and mathematical precision, his work extols the wonder of natural creation: columns soar like tree trunks, window frames curve like flowering branches, and ceramic tiling shimmers like scaly, reptilian skin. With this outstanding attention to natural detail, his inspirations from both neo-Gothic and Orientalist aesthetics, and a lifelong commitment to Catalan identity, Gaudí created a unique brand of the Modernista movement which transformed, and defines, Barcelona’s cityscape. With seven of Gaudí’s projects listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this book introduces the architect’s extraordinary vision and unique legacy, exploring the influences and the details which allow his buildings to impress, inspire, and amaze, one century after their construction. About the Series: Each book in TASCHEN’s Basic Architecture Series features: •an introduction to the life and work of the architect •the major works in chronological order •information about the clients, architectural preconditions as well as construction problems and resolutions •a list of all the selected works and a map indicating the locations of the best and most famous buildings •approximately 120 illustrations (photographs, sketches, drafts and plans)