10 MUST SEE GAUD

BUILDINGS IN BARCELONA
By Norbert 64 Comments

Barcelona is a well-known destination among travelers who wish to have a good mix of
fun and culture in a modern setting.
Knitted in this unmistakable urban fabric you will some unusual and well-known
buildings of a single architect named Antoni Gaud. His unique approach to theArt
Nouveau movement generated some of the most creative buildings you will see in this
Spanish region known as Catalua.
Even if you dont know anything about architecture or Gaud, when you walk the streets
of Barcelona you will intuitively be able to identify a Gaud building they are
unmistakable. So, if youre interested in experiencing an unusual Barcelona, you
should take a look at 10 of the most important buildings designed by Gaud:

1. Casa Vicens
This is Gauds first important building. Built between 1883 and 1888, Casa Vicens is an
imaginative residential project made for a rich family that owned a ceramic factory. This
is clearly reflected in the trencadis faade that contains a big variety of ceramic
decorations. You can also see some Islamic architecture influences in its faade and in
some of its rooms.

2. La Pedrera
This is one of Gauds main residential buildings and one of the most imaginative
houses in the history of architecture. This building is more a sculpture than a building.
The faade is a varied and harmonious mass of undulating stone that, along with its
forged iron balconies, explores the irregularities of the natural world.
recognized this building as World Heritage in 1984.

UNESCO

3. Parc Gell
Parc Gell was built between 1900 and 1914 and today is part of the UNESCO World
Heritage. This is a garden complex that houses a series of dynamically designed
buildings, including Gauds house. Most buildings have the trencadis (surfaces
covered with irregular ceramic pieces) that is characteristic of Gaud and Art Nouveau.
The colonnade hall and the terrace with serpentine shapes are the most popular places
of this park. This park is the perfect place to walk quietly while enjoying nature and
looking at Gauds artwork.

4. Palau Gell
This is the palace residence of the Gell family. The exterior shows a sober faade that
doesnt resemble other projects made by Gaud. On the other hand, the interior and the
roof make up for the lack of Gaudiesque elements in the faade. The central living
room has an unusual parabolic dome and the lounge ceiling is perforated by circles that,
under the daylight, give the ceiling a planetarium appearance. The roof counts with
chimneys and conical vents resembling fir trees.

5. Colonia Gell
Gaud designed this irregular oval church and crypt in 1898 and finished its construction
in 1914. The interior of the crypt has five aisles: a central one and two more at each
side. The original Gaud columns with various forms are present inside and outside.
The windows jut out over the walls, and in the upper part of the door a ceramic
composition show the four cardinal virtues. The crypt is built in basaltic stone bricks
with mosaics that give an archaic appearance.
The construction techniques used here laid the foundation of the techniques used in La
Sagrada Familia.

6. El Drac de Gaud at Finca Gell

Finca Gell is a big property of one of Gauds biggest client, Eusebi Gell i Bacigalupi,
the count of Gell. But whats interesting is not so much the complex, is its entrance
iron gate. The complex is composed by two buildings linked by a common monumental
cast iron gate adorned with Art Nouveau vegetal fantasies and a medallion with the G
of Gell. The most astonishing feature is its unusual big iron dragon manufactured by
the locksmiths Vallet i Piquer.

7. Casa Batll
Casa Batll is the result of a total restoration in 1904 of an old conventional house built
in 1877. Gaud used for it the typical constructive elements of the Modernisme (Catalan
Art Nouveau) that include ceramics, stone and forged iron. Even though it was highly
criticized by the city during construction for its radical design that broke all the bylaws of
the city, in 1906 it was awarded by the Barcelona City Council as one of the three best
buildings of the year.

8. Casa Calvet
Casa Calvet was built between 1898 and 1900 for the Calvets, a family of textile
industrialists. This is Gaudis most conventional work.
The stone facade reflects baroque influences, along with its bay windows, sculptural
decoration, and interior decorations. The shape of the balconies can be seen as a
forerunner to shapes used at Casa Batll, where Gaud turned much more to the
inspiration of nature. The roof is topped with two pediments, each supporting a wrought
iron cross. They are surrounded by various pieces of stone ornamentation and crowned
with statues of San Genis and Saint Peter Calvets saints.

9. La Sagrada Familia
This is the most famous of Gauds works. This church has been in construction since
1892 and its not expected to be finished until 2030. The church presents a great
depiction of the relationship between man, nature, and religion through its architecture
and faade sculptures. Climbing one of its towers will give you a unique view of
Barcelona. Also, take the audio tour, is very informative and its well worth it.

10. Cascada Fountain at Park de la Ciutadella

The Cascada was designed by Josep Fontser in 1881, specifically for the universal
exhibition in 1888, with young Gaud as assistant. Inspiration for the Cascada was the
famous Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy. It is located in Barcelonas most famous park
Park de la Ciutadella.
As you can see, Gauds architecture is full of unusual and unexpected characteristics
that are not seen in other buildings, let alone other cities in the world. Its no surprise
why this architects works make great sightseeing destinations that without any doubt
will create an impression on you.

GAUD PARK GUELL

Architect Antonio Gaudi not only designed some of the most beautiful
buildings in the world, but also created the most emblematic park in Barcelona,
which combines nature and impressive views of this amazing city. Built between
1900 and 1924 at the request of merchant Eusebi Gull, the park was originally
going to host around sixty houses and a chapel, but was never finished. As a
result, it became the property of the city of Barcelona in 1922. The style of
Gaudis architecture and his vision are clearly noticeable in the way this
incredible park was constructed: it features Gauds usual use of bright colours,
uncommon architectural forms and uses the landscape and nature to favor his
designs.

CIUTADELLA PARK
Parc de la Ciutadella is one of the biggest, traditional parks in the city. Both
the Catalan Parliament building and Barcelona Zoo are located on its grounds.
Part of its charm lies in its ornamental waterfall and artificial lake, and children
love this green oasis in the middle of the city. You can take a boat out onto the
lake, play table tennis, or enjoy any of the other seasonal activities and events
the park hosts every week, such as dancing by the bandstand in the park. The
park invites visitors to stroll alongside its fountains, check out its sculptures, and
take in all the other interesting and attractive decorative monuments the park has
to offer. Parc de la Ciutadella is the ideal place to go when looking for
peace, quiet and nature while in the heart of the city! While visiting La
Ciutadella, make sure not to miss the amazing building called the Hivernacle, a
winter garden with iron and glass architecture from the same period as the EiffelTower. There is a cafeteria inside.

TIBIDABO PARK
With rides dispersed over the slopes of the Tibidabo mountain, Barcelonas
amusement parkprovides a wonderful excuse to ascend Barcelonas highest
peak and get ample views of the city, the Pyrenees, and even the Baleares
Islands on a nice day. A trip to Tibidabo offers attractions ranging from an antique
fairground and rides from the 1920s, to modern roller coasters. The FGC train to
Avinguda Tibidabo (last stop on the Tibidabo line) will drop you right at the
gates of the Tibidabo Amusement Park. On weekends and holidays you can
take the antique tram service up the hill as well.

MONTJUIC PARK
Montjuc Park is a green reference point for culture, sports and entertainment
in Barcelona. It is located on the mountain Montjuc within a spectacularly lush
environment. Theaters and museums, fountains and gardens, sports facilities
and fairground pavilions make this part of Barcelona an attractive meeting point
and a place to visit & see. The 1929 Worlds Fair and the 1992 Olympic Games
helped the area become an outstanding green zone for culture, sport and
entertainment. Plaza dEspanya is the best starting point for getting to
Montjuc Park. The Magic Fountain is one the most attractive places to visit
with its evening performance showcasing water, music, color and light. A must
see. Next to the fountains, at the start of Avinguda Marqus de Comillas, stand
two beautiful buildings also worth visiting. One is the excellent reconstruction of
the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion- and a classic example of rationalist architecture.

The second is the CaixaForum the new Cultural Center of la Caixa-, which is
a great example of modernist industrial architecture.

DIAGONAL MAR PARK

This park, which is the second largest in Barcelona, is an immense, sunny,

open and fully accessible space where the water from a large lake shares
the limelight with grassy hills covered in lush vegetation. It is a place to take a
walk, sit in the sun, play, practise sports and sail toy boats. The Diagonal Mar
Park reaches the adjacent avenues in a way that allows it to mix in with the city.
This large and open space also acts as a entranceway to the sea. The park is
divided into five very distinct sections. The largest section runs between Carrers
Llull, Josep Pla and Taulat. There are two smaller sections that are separated by
an island of houses between calle Taulat, Josep Pla and the Garcia Fria Linear
Park. And the other two sections, separated by Carrer Taulat, are next to Carrer
Selva de Mar and have the Garcia Fria Linear Park on one side and Carrer Llull
on the other.
http://www.barcelonayellow.com/barcelona/beaches-parks/parks