Gaudi: Introduction to his Architecture

by Juan Eduardo Cirlot, Pere Vivas (Photographer), Ricard Pla (Photographer)

The best visual guide to start learning about the artistic world of Antoni Gaudi. It contains the keys to each of his achitectural works, accompanied by specific and updated images, and includes a text by the specialist Juan-Eduardo Cirlot.

Genres: Art, Architecture, Nonfiction, Travel, Reference, History, Spain

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1950

Reviews

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good basic overview of Gaudi's career and main works. Photos are adequate but not exceptional. Cirlot's essay is mostly pretentious guff.

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you read this book, and haven't been to Barcelona yet, then you will be planning your trip there in the near future. This book covers works outside of Barcelona, but of course, there is where Gaudi's most famous works are.
Sadly, this book measures only 8" x 8". It is designed like a "coffee-table book", but I don't know of any coffee tables that small! I wish it was much larger so that we can see the wonderful details of this master architect's work. As you know, most folks just know Gaudi through his master works from the exterior shots of maybe 5 of his most famous works. However, this book pays much attention to the incredible interior details in his interior design.
Gaudi reminds me much of Frank Lloyd Wright in the painstaking detail in the attention that he put into interior finishes.
I was privileged to tour Barcelona with my wife when my daughter and son-in-law took us on a tour of Barcelona a few years ago. I am so glad that they did.
This is easily one of the best books of the year for me, and there is one benefit to it's small size in that it will fit easily onto my book shelf. It is a keeper.

[Kadri · Rating 5 out of 5]

tahaks Barcelonasse tagasi!!!!

[Preili Pipar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kes ei teaks Gaudid? Või kui ei tea, siis ehk kuulsast basiilikast Barcelonas nimega Sagrada Familia ikka olete kuulnud ehk ka näinud :) Sagrada Familia on Gaudi suurim teos! Seda igas mõttes suurim.
Raamat on piltide rohke, tutvustades Gaudi tuntumaid kui ka vähetuntumaid arhitektuuri teoseid. Olulisel kohal on erinevate detailide ja nüansside välja toomine ning Gaudi motivatsioon nende kasutamisel (valgusrohkuse tagamine, mingi illusiooni saavutamine jne).
Raamatu autor on Gaudi tegemisi/saavutusi seostanud selliste maailmakuulsustega nagu Picasso, Klimt, Nietzsche, Zola…
Igatahes tahaks nüüd Barcelonasse!
Ja tore oleks, kui see raamat oleks olemas ka eesti keeles :)

[notgettingenough · Rating 3 out of 5]

Art just isn't my thing, but by complete coincidence I saw Malkovich's Klimt the other day and have read this book about Gaudi. Two men of the same period, two men who now seem to make their period what it was. We see them as being part of a movement - Art Nouveau - but that seems after the fact to me, a little like, as Hadrian would say through Yourcenar, pulling at the facts, arranging them to one's satisfaction.

Each of them was utterly their own man, however much they were in the employ of others. Their development as artists, as far as I can see, is specific to each of them, not part of some commonality of the period.

Well. Maybe they do share one vital aspect. Malkovich is a dead ringer for both of them. He's done Klimt, maybe Gaudi is next. I guess it's the Victorian beard thing.

I have to say, the text of this book is as turgid as turgid could be. I was wondering if it is translated, though I don't see a translator acknowledged.

Nevertheless, the joining of opposites often resolves antimonies and this tendency towards mechanical expression seems to us to be more than an expression of a cold 'techical' side to Gaudi, rather his faith in evertyhing that was beautiful and divinely demonstrated.

No wonder Klimt hated art critics.

[Martine Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving the pictures, day-dreaming of Barcelona!

[Miguel Soto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Librito de bolsillo pero con un gran contenido, abarcando, creo, toda la obra arquitectónica de Gaudí, además de sus grandes y más conocidas obras, vienen las de sus inicios, algunas colaboraciones que podrían llamarse menores pero también resultan sumamente interesantes, y mucho material como bocetos, maquetas, además de maquetas digitales de cada uno de los edificios, explicando la planta, los niveles y demás de cada proyecto.

A todo esto le sumamos una multitud de fotografías detalladas de las obras, tanto del conjunto como, valga la redundancia, de los detalles, por lo que realmente creo que permite tener una visión muy abarcadora del genial trabajo de Gaudí.

[Helen Catherine Darby · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book on the train to Barcelona, hoping to learn a little bit about the architecture that defines the city. I guess I did learn a little bit, but this book was overall inadequate and disappointing. The essays are pretentious, filled with nonsensical and grandiloquent vocabulary that provides almost no substance. Additionally, it contains almost no biographical information about Gaudi, which I feel is important to understanding his works. The photographs were decent and definitely piqued my interest in going to see some architectural works that I otherwise might not have during this trip. But overall this was not it.

[Snushane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd say a good introduction to his architecture. Lots of explaining pictures although a weird combination of very confusing analyses and brief takes. I wouldn't recommend this to the novice in architectural litterature (like me) since there are a lot of difficult terms and descriptions which, according to me, aren't telling me very much at all. Thus I wouldn't recommend it to the experienced architect either unless you're looking for some inspiration or pictures of the most famous works of Antoni Gaudí.

[Amir · Rating 4 out of 5]

کتاب کوچک و مختصری با تصاویری از پروژه هاست. توضیحات بدی نداره گرچه خیلی عمیق نیست و نقشه های معماری ساده ای داره و تصاویر هم دیتیل وار نیست اما حسنش در بررسی زمانی سیر زندگی حرفه ای گائودی است.
به طور کلی کتاب برای آشنایی است.
بدون شک گائودی آخرین معمار سنتی و اولین معمار مدرن به معنای خخودشه.
آثار بیشتر مجسمه گون و تراشیده تا آخرین دیتیل و بدن معماری مثل یک کل به هم بافته است. معمار نوعی طراح- سازنده- هنرمند- مجسمه سازه است.
در عین حال رویکرد سنت گرای گائودی نوگرایی و باز بودنش به فناوری جالبه.
همچنین تاثیر پذیری غیرقابل انکار از گوتیک و معماری اسلامی اسپانیا.
طبیعت گرایی گائودی هم به نوعی افراط و تلاش واقعگرایانه میرسه تا انتزاعی که در سنت شاهدیم.
از این جهت اتفاقا مدرن تلقی میشه. سیر حذف کلیه خطوط راست آشکاره.
بعضی کارها به کمیک و بعضی به اپیک میرسند.
انبوهی از نمادپردازی در چنین مسیری جای تعجی نداره.
زندگی پر رنج و زهد مسیحی نوعی از اخرین نمونه های یگانگی باور و عمل در مرز دوران سکولاریسم است. گویی اخرین معمار-کشیش (مثل معمار-عارف ایرانی) هم فوت میکند.. مرگ در اثر تصادف با تراموا.

[Diana Mendes Crespo · Rating 4 out of 5]

📖 3° livro lido em 2025

.. porque o Gaudí foi um arquiteto genial ✨️ inovador e que pensava tudo ao pormenor! 😍 E para além de arquiteto fazia móveis, brincava com jogos de luz, pensava no arejamento dos locais, etc. etc...

.. porque era apaixonado pela Natureza 🍀 e por Deus! 🙏

.. porque usou uma técnica nova (trencadís) que acho linda por ser super colorida e reutilizar materiais 🌈

E vocês o que sabem acerca deste Senhor? Já vi(vencia)ram as obras dele?

PS -> Adorei recordar a ida a Barcelona em Outubro 2024 👩‍❤️‍👨🌍

[Leila Mota · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love Gaudí and Barcelona, this is a must read book. Very easy to read, because it's mostly photos, but that's a plus, because they are the kind of photos that an amateur or a simple tourist won't be able to take. These photos aren't there to simply fill a space. They are closely related to an explanatory text, and that's what makes this book so useful and so precious to those who appreciate Gaudí's genius.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

The photography here is beautiful, but my god, you need a glossary in this book or a dictionary next to you to fully understand some terms. For a book that is considered an introduction it felt like you needed to at least to have done your undergrad in the subject to understand all the terms and I consider myself a person with a decent vocabulary.

It did make me want to leave the country and see everything though, I'll give it that.

[Karan joshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gaudí: Introduction to Architecture is an engaging overview of Antoni Gaudí’s life and visionary works, highlighting masterpieces like the Sagrada Família and Park Güell. With clear explanations and vivid visuals, it captures his unique blend of nature, art, and spirituality, making it a perfect entry point for anyone interested in architecture or design. As a passionate artist myself, I personally love the architectural designs of Gaudí, which feel both imaginative and deeply inspiring.

[David Herman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wonderful photos of the work of a true creative genius — or perhaps insane genius — all badly marred by often incomprehensible text that seems to have been lifted from a Google Translate of the original Catalan or Spanish without any English editorial input. Ultimately a disappointing book.

[Chin Chin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extensive show of Gaudi's work. Constantly a great inspiration to me in my design and art work

[Steve S · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty pictures, but the writing is not.

[Morales Pulgarin · Rating 5 out of 5]

T amo mucho Gaudí, por ti aprendí que la arquitectura no es aburrida

[Ian Greaves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick taster of a remarkable development in naturalist design by a brilliant mind

[Aibhla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t care for the philosophy essay and the pictures were mid. Love me some Gothic architecture tho

[Leandro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Otorgo cuatro estrellas por explorar el impacto de Gaudí; sin embargo, el libro podría mejorar al proporcionar más información detallada.

[Matilde]

Que homem! Vale a pena é ir ver ao vivo o que nos deixou :)

[Lavinia Darlea · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's greatest quality is that it is not dry - many similar works are a sore bore to read. But it's nicely written, the pictures are beautiful, so ... worth the time.

[Koko · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun architect

[Fredrika Lindgren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first saw this book in a tourist shop at La Rambla i Barcelona, but didn't buy it, which I regretted during the whole trip. When I were at the airport to fly home I saw the book again, in a bookstore and I didn't hesitate to buy it this time! Which I don't regret one bit!

This book gives one a really good overview of Antoni Gaudí's life, well at least of what we know about him and his works. The authors explain Gaudí's view of architecture really well and how different stages in his life coloured his architecture style. When it comes to the pictures, they are wonderful to look at and I like how details in his architecture are taken out and explained more thoroughly.

I don't want to think about what I'd have done if I hadn't bought this book, because it's amazing. It opened my eyes to Catalan Modernisme and as I said before, the pictures are amazing!

[Hannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Een interessant boek over Gaudi en zijn werk. Het boek bevat veel foto's wat bij zo'n boek essentieel is. Het boekje is geschreven in chronologische volgorde met zijn eerste werken, zijn topjaren en zijn laatste jaren. Daarnaast is er een biografie en een stuk over zijn architectuur opgenomen. Ook worden de afzonderlijke bouwwerken apart beschreven. Het boek is interessant voor iedereen die geïnteresseerd is in zijn werk. Ik ben zelf in Barcelona geweest en heb daar een aantal van zijn bouwwerken gezien. Dat maakt dit boek extra interessant. Dat ik zolang over dit boek heb gedaan, komt omdat ik een tijdlang geen non-fictie boeken heb gelezen. Het boek is redelijk dik, maar door de grote hoeveelheid foto's kun je het boek toch redelijk snel uitlezen.

[Leonardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lindo libro, aunque es más de fotos que de texto. No cuenta demasiado sobre Gaudí. Tiene fotos muy copadas, y a mí me sirvió como introducción a la obra del arquitecto. La verdad que no conocía mucho, y me dejó con ganas de ir a Barcelona a ver los edificios personalmente. Será en el próximo atraso cambiario, o me conformaré con Street View. Todos los edificios de este muchacho tienen un aire muy mágico. Me reavivaron las ganas de vivir en una casa de autor. Compraré el gordo de Navidad, a ver si tengo suerte. Me recordó a Paez Vilaró, pero bien hecho. Cuatro estrellas.

[Biaboki]

Heet in NL "Gaudi inleiding in zijn architectuur"

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you want to learn about Gaudí and his work, there must be lots of better books on the market than this one.

Just adequate. Nothing more. Nothing less.