Gaudí

by Maria Antonietta Crippa, Peter Gössel (Editor)

Desde la imponente Sagrada Família hasta la brillante fachada rica en texturas de la Casa Batlló, pasando por el maravilloso paisaje del Park Güell, es fácil entender por qué Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926) se ganó el epíteto de "el arquitecto de Dios". Con formas fluidas y una precisión matemática, su obra ensalza el milagro de la creación las columnas se elevan como troncos de árboles, los marcos de las ventanas se curvan como las ramas en flor y las baldosas de cerámica brillan como la piel escamosa de los reptiles. Con esta extraordinaria atención a los detalles naturales, su inspiración en la estética neogótica y orientalista, y el compromiso de toda una vida con la identidad catalana, Gaudí creó una vertiente única del movimiento modernista que definió el paisaje urbano de Barcelona. Este libro da a conocer la visión extraordinaria y el legado único de Gaudí, ya que analiza las influencias y los detalles que hacen posible que sus construcciones impresionen, inspiren y sorprendan un siglo después de su construcción. No en vano siete de sus proyectos están declarados Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO.

Genres: Art

96 pages, Hardcover

Published July 15, 2015

Reviews

[Floris Visser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interessant. Kan het aanraden

[Karla Osorno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 4.25 stars.

An illustrated narrative about the life of architect Antoni Gaudi, this book begins with his birth in 1852 and continues to his death in 1926, focused on his career as he kept his personal life private. The many political and cultural influences of his native Spain as well as his health, temperament, and family business combine to create the designer Gaudi. His identity as Catalan and his workaholic nature produced amazing creations (first commission was in 1878), gaining the attention of Barcelona’s bourgeoisie. Gaudi’s designs included buildings, landscapes, and furniture. He decorated the interiors of churches and convent chapels, and designed monumental street-lamps. Geometry and nature figure prominently in his work. It is fascinating to see all Gaudi accomplished, especially after traveling to Spain multiple times and seeing his work. “Gaudi regarded churches as being the most representative buildings of a people…” so it is fitting that he played such a key role in Sagrada Familia.

Maria Antoinette Crippa curated this collection. After an overview of Gaudi’s life and influences, she shows some of his key projects describing them, adding floor plans, photos, and historical details. At the end Crippa gives a summary timeline of Gaudi’s life and work.

While visiting Spain in September 2024, I toured El Capricho finished in 1885. In the gift shop I saw this book and ordered it to read when I returned home. El Capricho is magnificent. No photos (although beautiful) do it justice. Yet having this coffee table book is a joy and inspiration.