Gaudí's complete works: The inspiring, visionary buildings by the "Dante of architecture" Anyone who visits Barcelona today will come across the works of Antoni Gaudí--the architect who has attracted art-lovers from all over the world to Spain. It was here, in the capital of Catalonia, that the famous master of architecture produced nearly all of his works, including villas for the well-to-do bourgeoisie, the expansive Güell Park (which today is open to the public), and the famous church designed in honour of the Holy Family--a project which was begun over 100 years ago and has yet to be completed. Antoni Gaudí's life was full of contradictions. As a young man he joined the Catalonian nationalist movement and was critical of the church; toward the end of his life he devoted himself completely to the construction of one single church. As a young man Gaudí had a liking for the glamour of social life and the looks of a dandy; in old age, on the other hand, he lived a spartan life. Gaudí never married and devoted his life entirely to his art: architecture. His works have been acclaimed as "soothing oases in a desert of functional buildings," as "precious gems in the uniform grey of rows of houses," and the master himself was acclaimed as the "Dante of architecture". This book provides a sweeping study of his entire career, presenting his complete works via texts and illustrations.

An introduction by Daniel Giralt-Miracle, commissioner for the International year of Gaudi 2002, opens this book presenting the complete work of the brilliant architect Gaudi. It includes preliminary sketches and chapters about glasshouses, chimneys, 'trencadis' work, ceramic, doors, animals, etc... A 'must have' book.

A definitive and illuminating biography of one of the most famous – and most famously unfinished – buildings in the world, the Sagrada Familia of Barcelona. Its scaffolding-cloaked spires reach up to the heavens, dominating the Barcelona skyline and drawing in millions of visitors every year. What seduces our attention is perhaps a combination: not only its almost megalomaniac ambition and architectural extravagance but the sheer longevity of its construction. Its creator, Antoni Gaudí, 'God's Architect', saw the first stone laid on 19 March 1882 and yet it is unlikely to be completed until 2026 at the very earliest. It has survived two World Wars, the ravages of the Spanish Civil War and the 'Hunger Years' of Franco's rule. It has defied the critics, the penny-pinching accountants, the conservative town-planners and the slaves to sterile modernism to witness the most momentous changes in society and history. The Sagrada Familia explores the evolution of this remarkable building, working through the decades right up to the present day before looking beyond to the final stretch of its construction. It is at once a guidebook and a chronological history, and a moving and compelling study of man's aspiration towards the divine. Rich in detail, vast in scope, this is a revelatory and authoritative study of a building and its place in history and the genius that created it.

Through the pages of this work, we invite you to discover the captivating and enchanting universe of one of the most innovative and i conic architects Antoni Gaudí, a seminal figure in Catalan Modernism, has left an indelible mark on Barcelona's architectural landscape with creations that transcend the boundaries of time and space. This guide is intended to lead you through the mazes of his creative genius, reveal the secrets of his most famous works, and immerse you in the visionary spirit that animated this master of architecture.Each chapter will lead you to discover a different facet of Gaudí's work, from his early steps in architecture to his most celebrated achievements. We will explore the Sagrada Família, a true symbol of his devotion to sacred art, the Park Güell, where the harmony between nature and architecture reaches its peak, and many other projects that testify to his boundless creativity.This guide is not limited to a simple exploration of buildings. We will also delve into the innovative techniques and deep inspirations that shaped Gaudí's work. From the complex symbolism of the Sagrada Família to the bold organic forms of his creations, you will discover the elements that made him an avant-garde architect.Whether you are an art enthusiast, a curious traveler, or an architecture student, this work has been designed to offer you an immersive experience in the fascinating universe of Antoni Gaudí.

At the time of his death in 1926, Antoni Gaudí was arguably the most famous architect in the world. He had created some of the greatest and most controversial masterpieces of modern architecture, which were as exotic as they were outrageous. But little is known about the shadowy figure behind the swirling, vivid buildings that inspired the Surrealists. This masterful biography brings both man and architect powerfully to life against the changing backdrop of Barcelona and Catalonia. Gijs van Hensbergen leads us through the design and construction of Gaudí’s most significant buildings -- revealing their innovation and complexity, and demonstrating the growing relevance of Gaudí’s architecture today.

Inspired by the natural beauty of his homeland of Catalonia, Antoni Gaudi became a celebrated and innovative architect through the unique structures he designed in Barcelona, having a significant impact on architecture as it was known.

Spanish architect and designer, Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926) was an important and influential figure in the history of contemporary Spanish art. His use of colour, application of a range of materials and the introduction of organic forms into his constructions were an innovation in the realm of architecture. In his journal, Gaudí freely expressed his own feelings on art, “the colours used in architecture have to be intense, logical and fertile.” His completed works (the Casa Batlló, 1905-1907 and the Casa Milà, 1905-1910) and his incomplete works (the restoration of the Poblet Monastery and the altarpiece of Alella in Barcelona) illustrate the importance of this philosophy. His furniture designs were conceived with the same philosophy, as shown, for example, in his own office (1878) or the lamps in the Plaza Real in Barcelona. The Sagrada Familia (1882-1926) was a monumental project which eventually took over his life (it was still incomplete at the time of his death).

The fascination that the work of Gaudí arouses is due in large part to the enigmatic symbolism of its forms, full of mystical and philosophical significance that is sometimes difficult for observers to perceive, but which becomes clearer when analysed in the light of certain very influential currents of ideas in the art of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Based on the study of Casa Bellesguard and the Temple of the Sagrada Família, this book opens up new avenues for interpreting Gaudí’s symbolism, discovering the ties existing between the work of the Catalan architect and that of the German painter Peter Lenz, which at the same time is rooted in the early Romantic period. Aimed at both specialists and the general public, Antoni Gaudí: Casa Bellesguard as the Key to His Symbolism not only broadens the knowledge and the documentation of Gaudí’s creative universe, but also contributes to enriching our perception of his work.

Antoni Gaud ̕merged Orientalism, natural forms, and new materials into a unique Modernista aesthetic that put Barcelona on the global architecture map. With brand-new photography, plans and drawings by Gaud ̕himself, as well as an extensive appendix of all his works including furniture and unfinished projects, this book takes us through the...