GAUDI!

Gaudi's Gecko at Park Guell, one of his most interesting designs. 

Barcelona has an exponential number of cool things about it: laid back locals, white sand beaches, tree lined 'Ramblas,' interesting cuisine, Picasso, 350+ days of sun per year, an amazing soccer team -- heck, this is where that guy shot the flaming arrow over the torch to light the Olympic Flame (back in '92!)  However, if there is one thing that really sets this town apart, its a single man: GAUDI.

Antoni Gaudi was one of the world's most unique and individual architects and Barcelona's own native son.  He lived in the late 19th century and early 20th century, before sadly being ran over by a tram in 1926.  Much like Bob Marley and Kurt Cobain, Gaudi's work became much more famous after his death and is now celebrated as one of the most original voices in architecture in the last 200 years.  You will see below some of his work, but let me tell you one thing: it is not hard to tell a "Gaudy" building from the one next to it!  Today, the entire city is dotted with Gaudi buildings, giving the whole city a "don't take yourself too seriously" vibe... very cool.

Guess which is Gaudi's?

This Wikipedia excerpt sheds some light on his personality and the budding genius during his early years:

Gaudi was awarded the title of architect in 1878. As he signed the title, Elies Rogent declared, "Qui sap si hem donat el diploma a un boig o a un geni: el temps ens ho dirà" ("Who knows if we have given this diploma to a nut or to a genius. Time will tell.")

Gaudi's style can be described as "A Cake in the Rain," with whimsical designs looking like a cross between Walt Disney and Dr. Seuss.

Over the course of his widely controversial career (for some unknown reason, people didn't always immediately appreciate his advances in design and break from the Norm...), he designed a number of buildings, both public and private.  He was a devout Catholic and towards the end of his career moved completely away from secular designs, instead focusing his attention on his masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia Church.  Listed below are some of his most famous works:

CASA MILA:

Better known as "La Pedrera" (Catalan for 'The Quarry'), Casa Mila was started in 1906 and officially completed in 1912.  It sits in the Eixample District, an upscale district north of Barcelona's downtown, and was built for a wealthy couple in their day.  It is 6 stories tall, and has a crazy whimsical roof along with two huge holes in the top of the building.  I took the tour of this building, which is now cool museum. 

The roof of Casa Mila... does Dr. Seuss live here?

Casa Mila from across the street.

Maybe Gaudi had seen Star Wars before George Lucas even thought of it... and Darth Vadar.

Casa Batlló:

Casa Batllo is a not so ordinary house on a not so ordinary street.  It was originally built in 1877, but completely remodeled by Gaudi in 1905-1907 and is part of the "Block of Discord" - a street that has three different buildings designed by Barcelona's three most influential architects, all in drastically clashing styles.  It's like putting Disneyland, the Empire State Building, and a McDonald's all in a row and pretending like they all go together.

Bottom line is that Gaudi's is the craziest... as the whole has was built with the crazy goal of not having a single straight line in the place.  I think he succeeded.  They charge $16 to go in, so I chose to just shoot pictures from across the street, while managing not to get ran over, the fate of Gaudi himself.

By Night...

... and by Day.

Park Guell:

This 35 acre park overlooks the entire city of Barcelona, and was originally the (failed) idea for an unsuccessful housing development.  Put it this way: in the late 1800s, a "gated community" was way ahead of its time... because that's exactly what this was.  At the time, Gaudi was hired by rich businessman Count Eusebi Guell to turn this sprawling area (at the time bare) into a new garden city of sixty luxury lots.  While the plan never came to fruition, it did leave behind one of Gaudi's most original and creative works.  Me, I like the Gecko.

The two buildings at the entrance to the park look like the home of the 3 Little Pigs and Hansel & Gretyl.

The corners of the "Gingerbread House" - SO GOOD it makes me want to eat it!

Sagrada Familia:

Gaudi's most famous - and Barcelona's most famous - landmark.  This Roman Catholic church was his Masterpiece... and was so complicated and ran into so much trouble that it is still not finished today (current projected date of completion: 2026!)  Gaudi worked on it for 40 years, and exclusively the last 15 years of his life.

A total of 18 Spindle-Towers will adorn the finished church, representing (in reverse order of importance) the 12 apostles, the 4 Evangelists, the Virgin Mary, Soccer Star Ronaldinho, and finally Jesus Christ.  The whole church itself is filled with symbolism down to the very inch, and Gaudi designed 3 intricate facades to adorn the outsides -- the nativity facade, the glory facade, and the passion facade.

For the record, this church is not funded by the Church (if that makes sense) - instead it is relying on ticket sales (support the cause!) and private donations for its completion.  So I am encouraging everyone (especially you, George) to visit this church and help make 2026 a reality! 

The amazing Sagrada Familia... for more pics search Google - it will blow your mind!

~ J. Twice

PS  This blog took me a long time to write - like a freakin' report - SO... I hope at least one of you uses the information here to have a better trip to Barcelona (which will make it all worthwhile to me), OR that some college somewhere gives me at least partial credit on my first quiz.