The Legacy of Gaudi
Photo Journal / 2022.12.08
Early-modern Experiments in Biophilic Design.
Antonio Gaudi (1852-1926) was an experimental modernist architect, who worked predominantly in Barcelona, Spain. His style was a modern derivation of the gothic and art nouveau legacies and was characterised by a stark contrast towards the then developing minimalist modernism in Germany, France and the rest of Europe. His was a particularly unique architecture which was rarely followed by any of his contemporaries but greatly influenced the Modernisme style unique to the art and cultural milieu of the city of Barcelona. While using modern, industrial materials like glass and iron he also gave due value to locally available natural and traditional materials like stone, stained ceramic tiles, etc. His detailing often referenced fairy tale fantasies and mythical characters and situations, creating an aura of mystery and a unique dark-intrigue around most of his works. However, during his lifetime he was not an extremely popular figure among the general public and has been rumoured to have met his death after being abandoned unidentified on the street for a long time following getting hit by a tram.
La Sagrada Familia: The Incomplete Masterpiece.
The most iconic of Gaudi's projects and the most complex of its sort, La Sarada Familia was one of the earliest works to explore biomimicry. The complex structure was developed before the advent of computers, using representational models and references from nature. Its slender columns and interior domes mimic the branching of trees while the overall structure follows principles of massing found in anthills and similar dunes created by several other animals and insects. The layered facade and indirectly lit and ventilated interiors not only add to the incredible drama and aesthetics but also ensures evenly lit and optimally climate controlled interior spaces.
Park Güell: The Beginning of Modern Biophilic Design
Park Güell consists of a complex of built and natural landscape features, forming a private park, which was later converted to a municipal garden, on Carmel Hill, Barcelona, towards the north of the main city. Eusebi Güell, a local entrepreneur and developer, identified the potentials of future urban growth and commissioned a suburbia in 1900 in the then outskirts of the city. The park was conceived as a private recreation space for the residents of exclusive developments coming to the region. Gaudi used his expertise in rule geometrical forms to create several iconic buildings and built spaces across the 19 hectares of available land for the development. Inspirations for the design came from natural phenomena and organisms, including marine plants and organisms, reflecting the sea-side location of the city. Most built structures in the park are effectively camouflaged by plants, trees and other natural landscape features, lending the users virtually an experience of being in a natural setting while walking through the space. It is one among many projects by Gaudi that has become part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list.
The Town Houses: Ripples in the Gridiron
The Eixample, the late 19th century urban development of Barcelona was unique for its gridiron plan at the time. It's rational, mathematical layout was since then adapted during the planning of many modern cities around the world. The town houses designed by Gaudi in the Eixample districts were, however, a breath of fresh air among the monotonous buildings and urban blocks of the newly developed region. Even though Eixample has since then aged well, with the growth of street trees and urban landscape, these town houses still provide a relief from the usual scene of flat and minimal facades in the city. Gaudi's use of rough textures and materials, crafted details and flowing forms are evident in the facade treatment of these townhouses as well. Casa Battló is especially peculiar in using broken coloured ceramic tile chips as a facade element to add a playful splash of colour to the streets of Barcelona. Similarly, a clear mixture of architectural styles could also be seen as in thecae of facade treatment at Casa Calvet by the use of baroque style stonework, art nouveau style balcony and entrance detailing and modern joinery detailing. The curvy, yet rough stone texture of Casa Milà, complemented by the forged iron balcony railings, was one of the most unique facades of the time and the building has managed to become part of the UNESCO World Heritage list as well.
Featured town houses: Casa Battló, Casa Calvet and Casa Milà.
All featured photographs were taken in the fall of 2014.
