The life of
Antoni Gaudí
(1852–1926) was full of complexity and contradictions. As a young man he joined the
Catalonian nationalist
movement and was critical of the church; toward 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 demeanor 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.
Gaudí’s incomparable architecture channels much of this multifaceted intricacy. From the shimmering textures and skeletal forms of Casa Batlló 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 Gaudí himself
historical photos
, as well as an
appendix detailing all his works
—from buildings to furniture, decor to
unfinished projects
—this book presents Gaudí’s universe like never before. Like a
personal tour through Barcelona
, we discover how the “Dante of architecture” was a builder in the truest sense of the word, crafting extraordinary constructions out of minute and mesmerizing details, and
transforming fantastical visions into realities on the city streets.