Antonio Gaudi
Antoni Gaudí i Cornet (1852–1926) was a Catalan architect who is usually referred to by the Spanish translation of his name - Antonio Gaudí[1]. He was born in the province of Tarragona in southern Catalaonia and from an early age suffered from rheumatism which caused him great pain. Unable to play with friends or walk far, he took an interest in nature and natural forms. Later he went on to study architecture in Barcelona at the Escola Tècnica Superior d'Arquitectura. He graduated with average grades but even then, he must have been considered idiosyncratic, as when he received his professional diploma from Elies Rogent, the famous Catalan architect declared; "Qui sap si hem donat el diploma a un boig o a un geni: el temps ens ho dirà[2] (Who knows if we have given this diploma to a nut or to a genius. Only time will tell.)
| Who knows if we have given this diploma to a nut or to a genius. Only time will tell. — Elies Rogent |
Gaudi started work on small scale design projects such as lampposts. His design of a showcase for a glove manufacturer used at the 1878 Exposition Universelle (Worlds Fair) in Paris, first brought him to the attention a wealthy Catalan industrialist Eusebio Güell, but his first important work was for the private residence in Barcelona of another industrialist - Manuel Vicens, a brick and tile manufacturer. This was the Casa Vincens[3] a building of red bricks and undressed stone with checkerboard and floral pattern tiles in the Moorish style. Broken ceramic tiles later became a key design element of Gaudi's works.
Eusebio Güell and Gaudi were both ardent Catholics and shared common interests. Güell gave Gaudi a series of commissions, the first of which was for a Finca Güell the entrance pavilion and stables for what was to be the Palau Guell (literally a palace) in the unfashionable district of Pedralbes. It was about this time that Gaudi became involved with the Cathedral of the Holy Family - La Sagrada Familia. The crypt had been started in 1882 by another architect, Francisco del Villar who abandoned it in 1883. Gaudi took over the project which eventually took over him. He completed the crypt in 1891 and then started on the walls.
Unfortunately, he was run over by a streetcar with the building of the cathedral being put on hold owing to a shortage of funds.
