Gaudi’s universe: A personal tour through the shimmering streets of Barcelona

The visionary architect’s unique buildings includes some of the most visited monuments in Spain

The life of Antoni Gaudi was full of complexity and contradictions.

As a young man he joined the Catalonian nationalist movement and was critical of the church; towards the end of his life he devoted himself completely to the construction of one single spectacular church, La Sagrada Familia.

In his youth, he courted a glamorous social life and the demeanour of a dandy. By the time of his death in a tram accident on the streets of Barcelona his clothes were so shabby passersby assumed he was a beggar.

Gaudi’s incomparable architecture channels much of this multifaceted intricacy. From the shimmering textures and skeletal forms of Casa Batllo to the Hispano-Arabic matrix of Casa Vicens, his work merged the influences of Orientalism, natural forms, new materials, and religious faith into a unique Modernista aesthetic.

Today, his unique aesthetic enjoys global popularity and acclaim. His magnum opus, the Sagrada Familia, is the most-visited monument in Spain, and seven of his works are Unesco World Heritage Sites.

Through brand-new photography, plans and drawings by himself, historical photos, as well as an appendix detailing all his works Gaudi: The Complete Works is like a personal tour through Barcelona.

You can purchase ‘Gaudi: The Complete Works’ here