Gaudi History

Antoni Gaudi

His full name was Antoni Placid Guillem Gaudi Cornet. A little intricate like his architecture style! He was born on June 25, 1852 near Tarragona.

What means "near" Tarragona?
In spite of the fact that we are talking of the nineteen century, nobody knows exactly where he was born.

He was a Catalan architect, a genius and precursor of the modern architecture, who created his own style.

He deserves a mention, since some attractions are part of his art pieces.

The Learning

Since he suffered a rheumatic illness from his early years, he missed the school classes with a certain frequency. With such a health problem, he was not able to walk normally or even play with other children.
This circumstance allowed him to have enough time to observe the nature.

He studied in a very well known religious school in Reus. It seems that at that time he was a regular student with very good grades, but not a genius. He was very good in geometry. The influence of the religion on him probably begun during these years.

After this school period, he moved to Barcelona to study architecture. He passed several preparatory courses before entering in the university.

He was a very good student. He received again some good grades.
Do you imagine on what? Yes, of course, in the course of building design projects!
His graduation as architect was finally achieved in 1878.

The Young Gaudi

He used to read books about the Gothic art styles, as well as others regarding oriental buildings and also from the renaissance times. He was mainly influenced by books on medieval architecture.
All this, added to his own experience of observing the forms in the nature.

As a result, you can appreciate today such a unique eye-catching style and simplicity in every creation of the Master. In case you discover a straight line in his works, I promise to reward you!

He used to work for some builders in order to help his father to pay for his education.
His personality? Well, he was really a bad temper person, unable to control this characteristic.

After some projects, he started to earn some money and begun to live part of the life he missed as a student. He used to dress very well, with a real touch of distinction.
This and his good appearance, helped him soon to get in touch with the high society.

Just imagine. Young, elegant, with good appearance and enough money in his pockets!
Now you can understand why he never married.

The Architect

He was a successful professional and lived the good times of the industrial Barcelona, which took place among the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century.

He developed several projects during those years, not only for the well positioned people of the society, but also projects like houses for factory workers.
He was moving very well in the world of the high society, but he never forget his origins and maintained good relations with the workers.

He begun to be famous because he presented this project during the Paris World Fair in 1878. There, he had the opportunity to meet Mr. Guell, the person who became his best friend.

He participated in several projects in Barcelona after the Paris World Fair, in cooperation with other architects.
This relationship with other colleagues, allowed him to assume the responsibility of a colossal project in 1883, which was previously initiated by his former professor, Francisco de Paula del Villar.

This project was the Sagrada Familia, through which he was known all around the world.
He worked more than forty years for this fantastic project.

He still developed and participated in more projects.
From all of them, those more important are perhaps the Guell Palace, the Astorga Palace, Casa Batllo and Casa Mila (La Pedrera).



See more details in Gaudi Works - Part One
and Architect´s Works - Part Two

The Old Gaudi

The years of the beginning of the 20th century, have been perhaps the best times for him. His fame was at the top during that time, as well as his renown.

But the coming years played an important role in his life. The architect changed his social attitude. This change was probably due to circumstances which happened around his social and private life.

He used to live together with his father and a niece.

• His niece died in 1912
• In 1914 died his most important collaborator
• He was also in litigation with the family Mila, due to some problems with professional fee payments
• The construction of the Colonia Guell was stopped
• During the crisis of 1915, there were some problems regarding the continuity or not of the Sagrada Familia
• In 1918 died his best friend, Eusebi Guell

And nobody knows what else happened to the poor old Gaudi!
With such a lot of misfortunes in his life, it is perfectly understandable that he had important reasons for his changes in attitude.

During that time, he used to dress without any care at all. He also avoided any contact with journalists. He was not the man who had been before.

One year before his death, he moved his residence to the studio he had at the premises of the Sagrada Familia. He worked exclusively on the Sagrada Familia until his death.

His last misfortune brought him to death in June 12, 1926. He died because of an accident. A tram ran him over.
Because of his dress, the people thought that he was a vagabond and nobody wanted to take him to the hospital.

The body of the Master was buried in the crypt of the colossal building for which he worked more than forty years, the Sagrada Familia.

There is no other better place to honor this genius!

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