Antoni Gaudi i Cornet was a Catalan architect and the best known practitioner of Catalan Modernism. He was often referred to as “God’s Architect”.
Born on 25 June 1852 in Reus, Spain he died on 10 June 1926 in Barcelona, Spain and is buried there in the Sagrada Familia. The World Heritage Site is his greatest achievement. Construction started in 1882 and Gaudi became involved in 1883 when he took over the project. The basilica combines Gothic and Art Nouveau forms. Completion of the construction is estimated at 2026 the centenary of Gaudi’s death. It is the most visited monument in Spain.
Whilst the exterior view of Sagrada Familia is a world famous sight the interior is less often seen but is exceptionally beautiful. Gaudi based his internal design on leaves and rocks and created massive tree-trunk columns rising up to the vaulted ceiling where a canopy of stone leaves spread out. It is an amazing sight.
His work was inspired by nature and he is quoted as saying “There are no straight lines or sharp corners in nature. Therefore, buildings must have no straight lines or sharp lines”. This would explain why his unique style is so unconventional with wonderful flowing wavy lines. He considered every detail of his creations and integrated into his architecture such crafts as ceramics, stained glass, wrought iron forging and carpentry,
He lived to see the pinnacle of the St Barnabas Bell Tower placed atop the Nativity facade of Sagrada Familia. He looked at the colourful Venetian mosaics with which the pinnacle was decorated and declared “Look at the top! Is it not true that it seems to unite Heaven and Earth?”
