Antoni Gaudí is a famous Catalan architect whose work is characterized by modernist structures, a unique style, innovative techniques, and rich symbolism. Seven of his works, located in the province of Barcelona, Spain, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
He has completed dozens of projects , and we will highlight the most important ones in this article. Many of them are located in Barcelona, although we can also find others such as Casa Botines in León or Gaudí 's El Capricho, built in Comillas.
Professional career of Antonio Gaudí
His professional career began with the introduction of electric lighting in Barcelona in 1883, and one of his most notable works was the design of the public and private lighting system. Some of his designs can be found in the lampposts of Pla de Palau and Plaça Reial, built in 1879.
This design solidified his reputation as a decorator and architect, contributing to other works that can be found in bars, restaurants, cinemas, and on furniture, lamps, and shop windows. Below, we present 10 of the structures designed by this great artist:
1- Basilica of the Sagrada Familia (Barcelona)
Design: Religious temple.
Features: It is his masterpiece, with a projected height of 172,5 meters, making it one of the tallest religious buildings in Europe. It combines Gothic and Modernist elements, many of its features inspired by natural forms, such as the towers, which resemble a stone forest. The internal columns simulate trees with branches supporting the roof.
Details and interesting facts: Construction began in 1882 and it is still not finished. It is expected to be completed in 2026, coinciding with Gaudí's death. During the Spanish Civil War of 1936, a fire destroyed some of the original models and plans of the project, so it had to be redesigned by architects. Today it is one of the most visited monuments in Spain, attracting 4,5 million visitors a year.
2- Casa Batlló (Barcelona)
Design: Residential housing.
Features: It has an undulating façade, without straight lines, an unmistakable symbol of the Catalan Modernism of its architect. It has unique ornamentation that was remodeled between 1904 and 1906 by the architect. Among its elements are ceramics and colored glass , and its roof is shaped like a dragon , culminating in a cross that symbolizes the sword of Saint George.
Details and curiosities: It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Barcelona's most beloved monuments. Locals even nicknamed it the "House of Bones" because of the bone-like shapes of its facade.
3- Park Güell (Barcelona)
Design : Public park.
Features : It is a surreal and colorful park, ingeniously created in the upper part of the city. It combines nature and art and is full of symbolism. Its most distinctive features are the serpentine mosaic bench, the Dragon Staircase (El Drac) , the Hypostyle Hall (Hall of the Hundred Columns), the Nature Square, the Porticoes, and the Gaudí House Museum.
Details and curiosities : Local materials were used in its construction, and the design was intended to house up to 60 luxury apartments. The project failed, and only two houses were built. Its salamander sculpture has become a tourist and cultural icon of Barcelona. It has a special water drainage system to reuse rainwater.
4- Palau Güell (Barcelona)
Design : Urban residence.
Characteristics: Its style is modernist, with Gothic and Oriental influences. It served as the urban residence of the Güell family and as a space for social receptions. Its materials: stone, fine wood, ceramics, and glass—all carefully selected elements.
Details and curiosities: It has very symbolic and extraordinary elements, such as its main hall with a perforated ceiling to let in light. It also has an acoustic system that is still used for events . Its doors are made of wrought iron with unique patterns. Its symbolism is religious and cultural, with heraldic details and coats of arms.
5- Casa Milà (La Pedrera, in Barcelona)
Design : Residential housing.
Features : This building is another example of modernist architecture, with its undulating facade, sculptural chimneys , and futuristic, surreal rooftop. It is constructed of limestone blocks and features wrought-iron balconies.
Details and interesting facts: It was built between 1906 and 1912, commissioned by the businessman Pere Milà. It received much criticism, as its striking modernist style was criticized for being too "strange." It featured an architectural innovation: it was built with underground parking, a novelty at the time, and it employed an iron and concrete frame. This facilitated the creation of designs and the elimination of load-bearing walls. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
6- Casa Vicens (Barcelona)
Design : Residential housing.
Characteristics: It has a colorful, extroverted facade with Islamic, Oriental, and natural elements. It was created early in his career, between 1883 and 1885, when he began to focus on nature and symbolism.
Details and interesting facts: This is another of the works included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. For years it was a private residence and went unnoticed. In 2014 it was restored and opened as a museum in 2017. It has a wonderful garden, where the relationship between man and nature is explored, with fountains and decorative benches.
7- El Capricho (Comillas, Cantabria)
Design : Residential housing.
Features : Known as Villa Quijano and built between 1883 and 1885 , it was commissioned by Máximo Díaz de Quijano as a summer residence. It exhibits early modernism and maintains Gaudí's originality and integration with nature , but with inspiration from Persian architecture.
Details and curiosities: It is constructed with yellow and green tiles decorated with sunflower motifs. It features balconies and railings with unusual shapes, following the lines of plant elements , including musical notes for its owner. It was nicknamed "El Capricho" (The Caprice) due to its extravagant design and the whimsical construction , something unusual for its time. This is one of the works outside of Catalonia, but we can also find others such as the Episcopal Palace of Astorga and the Casa Botines in León.
