7 of Architect Antoni Gaudí’s Most Influential Modernist Designs

This Catalan architect is responsible for Spain’s most-visited monument

August 15, 2016

Antoni Gaudí is best known for working at the forefront of the Modernisme movement in the 19th and 20th century. Deriving inspiration from the popular neo-Gothic and organic styles of the time, the Catalan architect is behind some of Barcelona’s most iconic structures, such as the Sagrada Familia and Casa Milà. His love for nature and religion influenced his designs, through the use of heavily symbolic statues and structural forms. Today, many of his designs are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and Gaudí continues to be praised and studied by architects worldwide. These are seven of his most impressive architectural feats, from private residences to grand basilicas. Read on for a closer look at some of world’s best-recognized examples of Catalan modernism.

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Sagrada Familia
Although he devoted the final years of his life to this Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, Gaudí never completed the Sagrada Familia. The project began in 1882 as a neo-Gothic design by architect Francisco de Paul del Villar y Lozano. In 1883 Gaudí took over, transforming the structure into his own interpretation of Gothic blended with Art Nouveau. The interior’s supportive columns were inspired by a forest of intertwined trees, resulting in an ornamental raised ceiling composed of abstract shapes.
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Casa Milà
Also known as La Pedrera, this modernist apartment building was built in Barcelona between 1906 and 1912. At the time of its construction, it was considered controversial because of never-before-seen structural innovations like its undulating stone façade and self-supporting columns. It was named a World Heritage Site in 1984 and serves as the headquarters of the Catalunya–La Pedrera Foundation, which hosts exhibitions and public visits of the site.

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Casa Batlló
A 1904 remodel of an existing structure in Barcelona, Casa Battló is informally called Casa dels Ossos (House of Bones) because of the skeletal quality of its exterior. It is primarily decorated with colorful broken ceramic tiles, and the roof is elegantly arched, often compared to the back of a dragon. The roof also boasts four sculptural chimney stacks.
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Casa de los Botines
Casa de los Botines was Gaudí’s tribute to the surrounding city of León’s dramatic architecture. He incorporated medieval and neo-Gothic elements into the design, with a moat and two towers on either side of the building’s façade. Although intended as a residential building with a warehouse, it is now the headquarters for a local savings bank.

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Park Güell
A combination of experimental landscape and architectural design, Park Güell is situated on Carmel Hill in Barcelona. The space was built between 1900 and 1914, not opening as a public park until 1926. As a major part of Gaudí’s naturalist phase, Park Güell allowed him to develop an organic take on baroque structure. Incorporating a great deal of mythological and religious imagery, he drew inspiration from structures like the Temple of Apollo at Delphi.
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The Church of Colonia Güell
Another unfinished work by Gaudí, the Church of Colonia Güell was designed as a place of worship in Santa Coloma de Cervelló. The idea for the religious structure came from Count Eusebi de Güell, a Spanish entrepreneur. He ran out of money before they were able to complete the project, so the crypt is the only finished part.

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Episcopal Palace of Astorga
Built between 1889 and 1913, the Episcopal Palace in Astorga is one of Gaudí’s three designs outside of Catalonia. The original building was destroyed during a fire in the 19th century, and Gaudí was asked to create its replacement. He was working on a project in Barcelona at the time, so instead of studying the area’s terrain as he usually did, he asked for photos to be sent to him to work from. The neo-medieval structure uses gray granite for the exterior as well as four cylindrical towers. His signature style can still be seen in the arches of the buttresses and chimneys.