If Gaudí Built It...

...today we visited it!!

It was an action-packed day of Gaudí architecture. We certainly didn't hit everything but we did all we could!

We started at his masterwork, La Sagrada Familia, which he started in 1883 and worked on obsessively until his death in 1926. It was nowhere near completion, but through his detailed drawings and models, others have been able to continue the work. The building is expected to be finished in 2026. As Gaudí himself put it, "my client is in no hurry."*

There are two elaborate facades with a third still to be built. There is the Nativity facade

And the Passion facade.

Stay tuned for Glory.**

Once inside...whoa. The columns are meant to look like trees, natural light from the stained glass fills the giant space, there are no flat surfaces, and there is elaborate detail everywhere. 

After gawking our way around the basilica, we went to Gaudí's penultimate project, Casa Mila, aka La Pedrera. It's an apartment and office building still in use today. It has several Gaudí signatures, his unique rooftop designs to camouflage functional structures, undulating*** surfaces, and parabolic arches to create functional open floor plans. Why do we still not use all of his revolutionary 1920 ideas? No clue.****

Our last Gaudí stop of the day was Park Guell. This is where Gaudí and wealthy friend Guell tried to build a community of 60 houses but ended up selling two houses and the house where Gaudí himself lived. It worked out great for the rest of us because we get a lovely park with a few structures waiting for a much grander use. It also overlooks the entire city. 

Tomorrow we will take a Gaudí break to get a country point. You knew we didn't come all this way for just a repeat!!

-KT

*In this case, as in most cases, "the client" is God. 

**Again, as is often the case. 

***For you, LaQual! Also, it was said at least a dozen times in our various audio guides. 

****Pay close attention to find Dad looking like a spy movie villain.