Barcelona as a capital of art nouveau architecture

The modern part of Barcelona, which is at the same time the most important port city on the Mediterranean coast and the capital of Art Nouveau, reflects the characteristic feature of the town, where the main architectural works belong to the famous Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi. Also in Barcelona you can see the works of architects such as Lluís Domènech i Montaner, Josep Puig i Cadafalch, Joan Rubió i Bellver and Jeroni Granell i Manresa.

When I was looking for information about Art Nouveau architecture, I was discouraged by the works of Antonio Gaudi, which is why I will try to reveal Barcelona’s architecture of the 20th century through the buildings of this architect.

Casa Vicens

Casa Vicens is considered one of the most important creations of the architect because it marked the emergence of the Art Nouveau style in Spain. The construction of the Gaudi house was ordered by the brick and tile manufacturer Manuel Vicens in 1883.

Working on the project of this house, Antonio Gaudi was inspired by Moorish motifs with coloured mosaics, repeating geometric patterns intertwined with floral ornaments. Another feature of the structure is asymmetry and a lot of arches. They are considered the main distinguishing feature of Catalan modernism.

Bodegas Güell

Bodegas Güell, in Catalan Celler Güell, were built between 1895 and 1897 for Eusebi Güell. The industrialist and philanthropist saw the creations of Antonio Gaudi at the World’s Fair in Paris. They ordered him to create a 3-level complex that includes the cellar, a garage, living quarters and a house church with an observation deck.

Neo-Gothic architecture is visible in Bodegas Güell: a sloping roof, stylized spires, and several arches.

Park Guell

Eusebi Guell liked Gaudi’s style so much that he commissioned him to design an entire living area. To do this, the industrialist purchased 15 hectares of land. There were many green spaces on this territory, between which mansions and a park were to appear. The architect set to work with zeal. Several residential buildings, a colonnade of the market, pavilions were created. Ten years after the start of construction, the industrialist’s financial affairs were going out of the ordinary, so he had to sell his territory to the Barcelona City Hall, which made it a city park.

Park Guell is a stunning complex consisting of polychromatic mosaics, stone grottoes, bizarre spires. No sharp corners, just streamlined shapes.

Casa Batlló

In 1877, Josep Baglio i Casanovas, a wealthy textile manufacturer, commissioned Antonio Gaudi to remodel his apartment building. The owner did not like the traditional look of the house; he wanted the architect to turn it into a modern avant-garde masterpiece. Baglio planned to demolish the house altogether, but Gaudi ordered it in his way. The side walls adjacent to the neighbouring houses remained intact, but the facade was rebuilt. The architect also made a complete redevelopment of the building.

There are practically no straight lines in Casa Batlló. The beautiful exterior with fancy balconies cannot but attract the curious glances of passersby. Gaudi paid particular attention to details – these are the flickering stained glass windows created by chiaroscuro, a smooth transition of shades in mosaics.

Sagrada Familia

The Sagrada Familia is the most important and ambitious project to which Antonio Gaudi devoted 42 years of his life. Like other architect works, the temple is distinguished by natural forms, intricate details, and a riot of colour. When designing the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi used such styles as Art Nouveau, Gothic Revival, Orientalism.

Sagrada Familia has become the most ambitious project of the great Gaudi. However, the construction of the Sagrada Familia Church has not been completed for 134 years.

All the listed buildings make me want to dream because of their incredible shapes, which seem to refer to seascapes because the exterior reminds me of shells, corals and glass polished with sand and seafoam. Now I have set a goal in the future to visit Barcelona.