Antonio Gaudi
Antonio Gaudi was one of the most famous architects of the 18th and 19th century whose work continues to inspire audiences throughout the world. He was a Spanish Catalan architect and the best-known representative of Catalan Modernism. He has been known for its unique architectural talent, not something easily compared with other architects. Gaudi was a son of a coppersmith born on June 25, 1852, Baix Camp, in the province of Tarragona, however location of his exact birth is still debated upon. As a child he suffered from a rheumatic illness, which prevented him to run around, interact or play with other children and attend school. Hence he became a keen observer of nature: the form of the trees, flowers and animals. He observed that in nature many structures are composed of fibrous materials, such as wood, bone, muscle, or tendon. From the viewpoint of geometry, fibers are straight lines and curved surfaces in space made up of straight lines that define a straight-line geometry, which is based on just four distinct surfaces: the helicoid, the hyperboloid, the conoid, and the hyperbolic paraboloid.
As he grew older he had left for Barcelona to pursue pre-university studies. It was the main city of Cataluña where at the time Gaudi arrived there was a large anarchist independence movement. Before applying to the university he took a preparatory course, which allowed him to enter Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura (Upper Technical School of Architecture) from which in 1878 he graduated as an Architect. Antonio worked differently he did not like to draw his designs but rather to build models. He always used traditional techniques and achieved surprising results with them. After graduating he set up his own small office, and started to receive many commissions. His first commission, achieved through a competition, for the Plaza Real in Barcelona. Antonio Gaudi undertook a number of commissions one was for lampposts for furniture and altarpieces and a showcase for gloves for the Comella firm forthe Paris Exhibition of 1878. An early house commission was the Casa Vicens (1883-1885), which used polychrome tile on the exterior and in the smoking room (fumador) . Not only that but at that time young architects were asked to revive the Catalan identity, to restore churches, convents and old palaces, and to embellish the rapidly expanding city with imposing public buildings possessing a solemn, representative monumentality. Much of Gaudí's work was marked by the four passions of his life: architecture, nature, religion and his love for Catalonia. He found inspiration for his work within medieval books, in gothic-style art, and from organic shapes in nature. One of his first works was designed in the style of gothic architecture and traditional Spanish architectural modes.
In the latter years Gaudi was inspired by oriental arts (India, Persia, Japan) through the study of the historicist architectural theoreticians, such as Walter Pater, John Ruskin and William Morris. The influence of the Oriental movement can be seen in works like the Güell Palace, and the Casa Vicens. All of the mentioned above were traditional Catalonian styles. Although he did not travel around Europe he was acquaintance with French avant-garde movements because of the tight relationships between Barcelona and France. After a few years under the influence of neo-Gothic art, and certain oriental tendencies, Gaudi became part of the Catalan Modernist movement, which was then at its peak, towards the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. A French architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc, who promoted an evolved form of gothic architecture, proved a major influence on Gaudi. And these influences were evident in his work such as the Casa Botines and the Bellesguard house. In the due course but he soon incorporated his own distinct sculptural style: contrived highly original designs – irregular and fantastically intricate. Gaudi's style could be described as a mix of Art Nouveau and his own unique organic style, which was influenced by shapes and structures from the natural world. One of Gaudi's most impressive and beautiful buildings is Casa Batlló. Gaudí designed the building for Josep Batlló, a wealthy aristocrat, as an upmarket home. He had asked Gaudi to tear down the old one to reconstruct a new one. Gaudí managed to convince Battló to remodel the existing building instead of tearing it down, and between 1904 and 1906 he redesigned the facade and roof, added an extra floor and completely remodeled the interior. This building clearly illustrated Gaudi’s work. His use of flowing organic lines are evident and can be seen in my details in the structure. There are no sharp edges or straight lines but the walls feel as a membrane composed of ceramics, or rather waves on the ocean. Much of the façade is decorated with mosaics made of tiles that start in shades of golden orange moving into greenish blues. Not only that but it also seems that it is made form bones and stones. The "Skulls" are in fact balconies and the "bones" are supporting pillars. As you enter the building, the viewers greeted with a wide and curving stairway, which leads to the second floor of the building and the main rooms of the Batlló apartment. Where as the roof is made as though it is a spine of a huge reptile. In the center of the building, Gaudí expanded the existing patio and installed a large skylight. He placed the elevator shaft and stairwell inside here, while incorporating a way to distribute light evenly through the building. The long gallery of the main suite, the Noble Floor, overlooking Passeig de Gràcia, is composed of wooden-framed windows which are opened and closed by raising and lowering using counterweights Even the interior gives an entirely magical experience: and aquatic feel to it. Gaudi himself was once quoted as saying: “Those who look for the laws of Nature as a support for their new works collaborate with the creator.” By replacing straight lines with organic curves and choosing his materials and colors wisely, Casa Batlló is a clear example of that mode of thought.

This work of Gaudi I believe is a clear example of an Artist’s vision. Gaudi incorporated his creativeness into a building produced a concrete example of his vision. To me it feels like this building you might see in Disneyland, but here it is on a normal street of Barcelona erected amongst other buildings. Yet it questions our imagination. The curves, the colour scheme that is used, the use of bones, it is simply captivating! This is what Gaudi’s work is about to create an impact on its viewers. I really appreciate this work of his because he created something completely different, something out of the ordinary.
Another one of Gaudi’s famous work is the Sagrada Familia. Though it is unfinished it is still on of the famous attractions in Barcelona. Whilst the building was actually started by Francisco de Paula Villar, It was Antonio Gaudi who took over in 1884 by finishing the underground crypt that Villar had begun to give Sagrada Familia a unique twist and a revolutionary design. Gaudi incorporates his religious side into this building.
The church was designed to have a total length of 110 m, and a height of 45 m, with twelve towers between 100 and 115 m high. The ground plan is a Gothic basilical plan in the shape of a Latin cross, with five naves connecting with a transept that connects to three naves, apse, and ambulatory. The rest of the church is conceived in an organic style, imitating natural shapes with their abundance of ruled surfaces. He intended the interior to resemble a forest, with inclined columns like branching trees, helicoidal in form, creating a simple but sturdy structure. Three facades, which will represent the Nativity, the Passion and Death, and the Glory of Christ. The twelve towers will symbolize the twelve apostles. Four monumental bell towers will represent the four Evangelists. On each tower, there is the statue of the apostle, seated, with his name in full, written vertically. Two colossal domes will represent Christ and the Virgin Mary. The temple crypt began by Villar was finished by Gaudi in 1885. The rippling contours of the stone façade make it look as though Sagrada Familia is melting in the sun, while the towers are topped with brightly colored mosaics, which look like bowls of fruit. Gaudí believed that color is life, and, knowing that he would not live to see completion of his masterpiece, left colored drawings of his vision for future architects to follow. During Gaudí’s life only the crypt, apse and part of the Nativity facade were completed in a Baroque fashion with motifs of animals and plants. Upon his death his assistant Domènec Sugrañes took over the construction; thereafter various architects directed it. Jordi Bonet i Armengol assumed responsibility in 1987 and continued as of 2011.
This building it is a vision inspired by the architect's religious faith and love of nature. He understood that the natural world is rife with curved forms, not straight lines. With these organic models in mind, Gaudí based his buildings on a simple premise: If nature is the work of God, and if architectural forms are derived from nature, then the best way to honor God is to design buildings based on his work. Even though George Orwell called the church "one of the most hideous buildings in the world." I would disagree because; Antonio Gaudí being at the height of modern art shows us that the key element of his work is derived from the simplicity and the beauty of nature. After observing his work, each and every one of buildings clearly shows his chain of thought. I really am fascinated by his work, but fascinated by his imagination more. As to how he combines to what he sees and feels into his buildings, making it such a surrealist compositions. It is interesting because to the world architecture means straight lights, straight buildings, but Gaudi completely revolutionized the world of architecture for me. In conclusion I would say Gaudi was a visionary and one of the geniuses of our time.

Bibliography

Bassegoda, Jaun "Antonio Gaudi, Master Architect,"

Dennis Sharp. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Architects and Architecture. New York:
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Grossman, Rachel, "Inside Casa Batlló", ArchitectureWeek No. 123, 2002.1113, pC1.1.

H.R. Hitchcock, Antonio Gaudi, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1957.

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Torres, I. Álvarez. "La Sagrada Familia de Barcelona ultima los preparativos para su apertura al culto" (in Catalan). Lavoz Digital. Archived from the original on 16 October 2011.
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Amazing Architecture: Casa Batlló in Barcelona, Spain, http://www.escapeartist.com/OREQ19/Casa_Batllo.html Antonio Gaudi (1852-1926)”, http://www.webcitation.org/62TSUcrJB

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[ 1 ]. “Antonio Gaudi (1852-1926)”, http://www.webcitation.org/62TSUcrJB
[ 2 ]. "Biography at Gaudi and Barcelona Club, page 1". Gaudiclub.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2005.
[ 3 ]. “Antonio Gaudi (1852-1926)”, http://www.webcitation.org/62TSUcrJB
[ 4 ]. J.J. Sweeney and J.L. Sert, Antonio Gaudi, The Architectural Press, London, 1960
[ 6 ]. Amazing Architecture: Casa Batlló in Barcelona, Spain, http://www.escapeartist.com/OREQ19/Casa_Batllo.html
[ 7 ]. “Antonia Gaudi, the architect of God” http://www.iveamerica.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=254:antoni-gaudi-the-architect-of-god&catid=9:latest-news&Itemid=15
[ 8 ]. “Sagragada Familia” A view on cities , http://www.aviewoncities.com/barcelona/sagradafamilia.htm