Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Taschen Basic Architecture

Gaudí: An Introduction to His Architecture

Rate this book
A complete photographic anthology of Gaudis work in a large format book designed by America Sanchez, which includes a meticulous selection of images where technical quality and aesthetics are combined. This book brings together twelve years of photographic works dedicated to the architecture of Antoni Gaudi."

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1950

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

Juan Eduardo Cirlot

43 books28 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
296 (38%)
4 stars
292 (37%)
3 stars
154 (19%)
2 stars
29 (3%)
1 star
7 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
Profile Image for  Irma Sincera.
208 reviews114 followers
January 18, 2022
Įprastai šios Taschen serijos knygose autoriams pavyksta glaustai ir aiškiai pristatyti tam tikrą kūrėją. Ši knyga pirmoji, kuri jautėsi truputį chaotiškesnė. Šios knygos skirtos tokiam pirmam susipažinimui su kažkieno kūryba, tačiau vis įsivaizdavau šią knygą skaitant žmogų apie Gaudi nežinant nieko ir sunkiai įsivaizdavau, kad pabaigus, galėtų susigaudyti ir susisteminti sau galvoje informaciją.
Man tai buvo jau n-toji knyga apie jį, skaičiau dėl malonumo ir nostalgijos ir tai paskirčiai puikiai tiko.
Profile Image for Sérgio.
111 reviews31 followers
January 29, 2019
Antoni Gaudí, 1852-1926: Da Natureza à Arquitectura é fruto de uma parceria, decorrida em 2004, entre o jornal Público e a editora alemã de arte Taschen, que consistiu na publicação de um vasto leque de obras da reputada série monográfica Basic Art.

Mais do que uma biografia - apenas nos são apresentados dados muito esparsos sobre a vida de Gaudí, tal como o nascimento na província de Reus, no meio de uma família de artesãos caldeireiros, a sua formação em Barcelona, na Escola de Belas-Artes, o seu arreigado catolicismo, uma crise de fé em 1893 e a menção a uma vida recatada, quase celibatária, que levou - o livro trata da genealogia e interpretação da obra do arquitecto catalão.

Maria Antonietta Crippa começa por fazer uma introdução abrangente do período histórico, económico e social, entre meados do século XIX e os anos 1920, atravessado pela Europa da segunda revolução industrial, das inovações tecnológicas galopantes e do fervilhar de novos movimentos artísticos e da Espanha, em crise identitária e nacionalista, de afirmação de regiões autónomas independentes, particularizando a realidade da Catalunha. O cerne da obra é dedicado aos projectos de Gaudí, com um capítulo para cada um, num total de dezasseis: a residência de férias em Santander do marquês de Comillas, El Capricho; o parque da residência de Eusebi Güell, patrono de Gaudí, contendo um picadeiro, estábulos e uma casa do guarda, a Finca Güell, nos arredores de Barcelona; a Casa Vicens, na Carrer de Les Carolines, do corretor da bolsa Manuel Vicens i Montaner; o Palau Güell, a mansão do industrial nas Ramblas no centro de Barcelona; o Col.legi de les Teresianes, o convento da Companhia de Santa Teresa de Jesus; o Palácio Episcopal de Astorga; a casa comercial Fernández y Andrés em Leão; a Casa Calvet, na Carrer Casp, para os filhos do industrial têxtil Pere Màrtir Calvet; a cripta da Igreja da Colónia Güell, da cidade operária de Santa Coloma de Cervelló; a Villa Bellesguard, nos arredores de Barcelona, de Maria Sagués; o Park Güell, projecto inovador de cidade-jardim empreendido conjuntamente por Eusebi e Gaudí, do qual apenas ficaram concluídos os jardins e duas residências; melhoramentos na Catedral de Mallorca, a pedido do bispo Pere Campins i Barceló; a remodelação da Casa Batló, no Passeig de Gràcia, propriedade da família homónima; a inovadora e ondulante Casa Milà, popularmente conhecida como La Pedrera, também no Passeig de Gràcia, no outro lado da rua; o pequeno edifício das salas de aula da Sagrada Família, uma súmula das suas inovações arquitectónicas; e, por fim, a sua magnum opus, a Sagrada Família, projecto da Associació Espiritual de Devots de Sant Josep que o incunbiu da direcção em 1883, a que tudo devotou, ao ponto de abandonar todos os projectos em que estava envolvido, em 1914, para se dedicar em exclusivo à edificação da catedral. A rematar, uma cronologia da vida e obra de Gaudí, mapas para situar a localização das suas obras, em Espanha, e em Barcelona, e uma bibliografia indicativa de posteriores leituras mais aprofundadas.

É interessante notar a evolução de Gaudí, as suas múltiplas influências e engajamentos. Contemporâneo do movimento da Art Nouveau, Gaudí partilha com ele diversas afinidades programáticas, particularmente a preferência pela experimentação, pelas linhas curvas e a reinvenção de estilos antigos, sobretudo o barroco e o rococó com um novo sentido prático e funcional. Não obstante, a obra de Gaudí destaca-se da norma precisamente pelo seu génio inventivo e pelas influências que foi beber à tradição catalã: o arco catenário, os sótãos com arcos parabólicos e hiperbólicos em padrões serpenteantes, os motivos de inspiração marítima. A natureza, e o plasmar das suas formas na pedra e no ferro forjado, são o grande motivo aglutinador do seu estilo. Filho de artesãos, o artesanato e a qualidade do produto manufacturado por um mestre, ora carpinteiro, ora ferreiro, ora soldador, são uma constante nas suas opções de acabamentos. A temática religiosa orienta, pelo seu lado, até os pormenores mais inusitados, como a recorrência de pináculos, a relembrar campanários de Igreja, o formato de saídas de ventilação em forma de cruz, a simbologia bíblica e as inscrições latinas, como na Casa Batló ou na Casa Fernández y Andrés. Por último, e não menos importante, a sua filiação junto do emergente nacionalismo catalão, cujas obras pretendem ser uma expressão e exaltação desse mesmo nacionalismo. Não é por acaso que, hoje em dia, Gaudí é tão reverenciado na Catalunha, há uma clara apropriação do seu génio em prol das tendências independentistas locais, que o próprio, provavelmente, não veria com maus olhos.
Profile Image for Simon.
980 reviews27 followers
April 28, 2010
Good basic overview of Gaudi's career and main works. Photos are adequate but not exceptional. Cirlot's essay is mostly pretentious guff.
5 reviews
March 3, 2026
Mir hat das Buch (bzw. Er als Architekt) richtig gut gefallen. Ich finde einfach Gaudi als Person unglaublich spannend, da ich zum einen seine Werke sowie seine Detailverliebtheit unfassbar faszinierend finde.
Jedes Mal, wenn ich eine Seite umgeblättert habe musste ich mich erstmal für ein paar Minuten den Bildern widmen. Es gab so viele Verzierungen und Details, die man sich wirklich einmal genauer anschauen musste.
Man spürt wirklich seine Kreativität und Liebe zum Handwerk in seinem Bau. Seine Gebäude wirken wie aus einem Märchenland aber trotzdem voll durchdacht und innovativ.
Natürlich ist es kein tiefgehendes Fachbuch. Dafür habe ich auch gar nicht das Wissen. Es ist wirklich einfach eine schöner Überblick über seine Biografie und Werke.
Profile Image for Bruno Laschet.
756 reviews23 followers
August 21, 2023
Eine Zusammenfassung der schönsten Bauwerke von Antoni Gaudi. Teilweise hätte ich gerne etwas mehr Infos gehabt. Aber für einen groben Überblick passend.
Profile Image for Hugo Demets.
Author 1 book4 followers
August 5, 2019
Elk boekje in de serie Taschen Basic Architecture kun je in twee uur uitlezen. Elk boekje is op dezelfde manier opgebouwd: eerst een beschrijving van het leven van de architect, gevolgd door beschrijvingen van de belangrijkste bouwwerken. Dit allemaal vergezeld met mooie foto's en grondplannen. Aan het eind staat dan nog een puntsgewijze opsomming van de belangrijkste zaken uit het leven van de architect, een soort van tijdlijn. De beschrijvingen zijn geschreven in een technisch-zweverig taaltje dat architectuurcritici gebruiken, en zijn niet zo vlot leesbaar voor niet-ingewijden, wat dan direct ook het grootste minpuntje van deze boeken is.

In het deel van Gaudí wordt ruim aandacht geschonken aan het brede en immense vernuft van de Catalaanse architect, die zowel bouwtechnisch geniaal was, interesse had in de oud-ambachtelijke manier van bouwen, creatief was met ornamenten, en ook op botanisch gebied enorm onderlegd was. Om dit te staven worden zestien van de belangrijkste werken van de architect in het boek getoond en beschreven.

Profile Image for 7on.
119 reviews1 follower
May 3, 2020
это первая и единственная книга, что я прочитал по архитектуре. очевидно, она о гении, но больше о его творениях. о человеке стиль и почерк которого не смог повторить никто до сих пор. я не знаю, как он это делал, но в его работах какая-то гармония, баланс, сочетание природного и искусственного, человеческого и божественного. модерн Гауди отличается от всего привычного модерна, хоть я и специально поинтересовался темой, я не смог найти ничего подобного. обязательно постараюсь побывать в Барселоне и увидеть вживую его творения.
Profile Image for Louise.
1,899 reviews410 followers
October 26, 2020

This book presents the highly individualist work of Antoni Gaudi. His work incorporates so many styles it is hard to pin down. There is the influence of the castle, the modernist, the Arabic-style mosaics.

All the works presented are worthy of note. I like the simple (for him) ones the best.

The text is good, particularly for those not acquainted with his work. It piqued my interest in this architect.

Some of the photos have washed out color and poor focus.
Profile Image for notgettingenough .
1,084 reviews1,415 followers
February 1, 2011
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.
Profile Image for Kenneth.
1,071 reviews7 followers
August 18, 2025
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.
Profile Image for Preili Pipar.
665 reviews20 followers
March 7, 2017
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 :)
Profile Image for Sandra.
412 reviews51 followers
July 21, 2011
Because there is little known about Gaudí's personal life, you can see this book as a quick overview of Gaudí's work. I wasn't familiar with his work at all, but after reading the book I have fallen in love with his use of lightning, colour and shapes. His metal work is also very impressive. I must say I'm very much looking forward to seeing the actual buildings and not just the photographs when I'm in Barcelona!
Profile Image for C.
2,440 reviews
May 8, 2008
My favorite thing about Barcelona was Gaudi-I still cherish this.
Profile Image for joana .
12 reviews
Read
March 24, 2024
não acredito que a sagrada família foi feita para uma religião que parecia uma seita de ricos. odeio aqui
Profile Image for d.
233 reviews
May 27, 2023
"Gaudí's masterly genius in the use of traditional building techniques combined with highly plastic geometric-structural solutions." - Crippa

I am heady with dreams thinking about going to Barcelona, which is perhaps what Gaudí felt all the time.

Gaudí is in the truest sense a master of his craft. The seemingly superfluous and organic qualities of his architecture imply an arbitrary wildness to the layman, but upon learning more one realizes he thought everything through. He could only accomplish what he did because he was so adept at the technical and engineering realities of it all (astounding to me, and the only factoid that motivates me to study my basic-ass calculus) given his background as the son of a boilermaker as well as his education. The more imaginary he got the more realistic he had to be, and he did it. His architecture is enamored with metaphor and Catholicism and you have to respect how strong-willed and faithful he was in executing his vision. No post-modernist theories fazed him, clearly. There is so much humanity in this man that it makes his architecture magic. I loved the tiny stories about him picking out wildflowers from the site and asking his workers to model the towers out of that, as well as the one where they were cleaning a dragon that had been mounted on the entrance of a Gaudí building they found all his signed and original drawings in a copper roll.

There is a romantic quality in his architecture that is so generous, especially now in contrast to all our post-modern bullshit. I'd love to be that. Clearly, though, his career was aligned with the stars: nothing but meteoric rise with the most limitless conditions: extensive time, money, and land, due to generous patrons. Also wonderful how he utilized and learned traditional Catalonian techniques (like trencadis).

My favorite building in this book is the simplest one, actually: the Colegio de las Teresianas It is the most beautiful form of austerity I have ever seen. I love even more the fact that it is "believed to be a metaphor for Il castello interiore, a mystical work by Teresa of Avila in which the saint compares the sould to a castle whose centre radiates the light of the divine presence." Hence a beautiful glass-enclosed courtyard, extending into catenary arches.

I want to note Crippa's architectural writing too: in obvious adoration of Gaudí (a positive), spatially descriptive and comprehensive, provided historical and environmental context, provided provenance and collaborators, all interwoven to be a clear and beautiful web of a story. Need to learn from that.

Still, though, the romance, the dreams, the metaphor, the dragons, the flowers!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for ?0?0?0.
727 reviews38 followers
August 21, 2019
A solid summary of some of Gaudi's work. It helped a bit for our visit to Spain. Not recommended for serious research on the topic.
Profile Image for Javier Cebreiros.
94 reviews4 followers
January 3, 2023
Es genial y precioso el libro, pero hasta en un libro increíblemente editado es imposible captar la belleza de las obras de Gaudí. Gran libro que solo es mejorado por visitar las obras in situ.
Profile Image for dani ocean..
51 reviews1 follower
October 24, 2023
casi cuatro, buena información general <3 (lo leí en francés así que me costó trabajo, pero no encuentro la versión en francés aquí).
Profile Image for Rahmadiyanti.
Author 15 books176 followers
July 10, 2012
Tadinya nggak begitu ngeh dengan Gaudi. Dua tahun lalu baca naskah buku traveling, di mana penulisnya pernah mengunjungi Barcelona dan mengunjungi La Sagrada Familia--salah satu masterpuece Gaudi, jadi tahu deh. Terus baca beberapa buku traveling yang berhubungan dengan Spanyol, selalu ketemu nama ini. Beberapa hari yang lalu ke toko buku yang lagi diskon, nemu buku ini. Entah kenapa langsung bawa ke kasir + kamus saku Indonesia-Spanyol (apakah ini tanda-tanda...? ;)

Buku ini semacam pengenalan singkat tentang kehidupan Gaudi plus karya-karyanya. Saya nggak begitu mengerti arsitektur (meski dulu cita-cita jadi asitek ;p), tapi melihat gambar-gambar karya Gaudi di buku ini, memang keren dan sangat detail pada ornamen. Disebutkan kalau Gaudi seorang tradisionalis juga inovator. "He managed to imbue his architecture with a systematic and enduring bond between statis structure and architectural form, between spatial form and decoration..."

Favorit saya Casa Mila dan Sagrada Familia. Untuk La Sagrada Familia lebih ke penasaran karena karya Gaudi satu ini belum selesai saatGaudi wafat pada tahun 1926. LSF diperkirakan baru selesai pada tahun 2026.

Well, untuk lebih membuktikan keunikan karya Gaudi, sepertinya memang harus datang langsung dan melihat sendiri. Aamin... *komat-kamit doa* :D
Profile Image for Azamat.
413 reviews22 followers
May 4, 2013
Книга хорошая. Как и следует из названия, в ней рассказывают о жизни и работе великого архитектора Антонию Гауди. О жизни написано не много, отчасти потому что жизнь у него была неочень и по сути вся жизнь сводилась к его работе. Вас познакомят с самыми известными строениями Гауди. Больше всего радует, что у книги отличный формат - она не слищком большая, но и не миниатюрная. Ровно столько, чтобы получить представление об этом архитекторе и его творениях, но при этом не уснуть в подробностях архитектурных терминов (коих, поверьте, сто тысяч миллионов). Не хватает только бОльшего количества фотографий, потому что зачастую бывает подробное описание какого-то интерьера, но слабая фантазия и недостаток архитектурных знаний не позволяют живо все это представить.

Если вы не знаете кто такой Антонио Гауди и чем он знаменит и тем более не увлекаетесь архитектурой, то книгу можно смело пропускать, потому что это не чтение для широкого круга читателей. Однако, если все не так, то издание вполне стоит своих денег.
48 reviews1 follower
November 4, 2023
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.
Profile Image for Fredrika Lindgren.
12 reviews
October 9, 2015
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!
Profile Image for Hannie.
1,451 reviews27 followers
November 9, 2015
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.
Profile Image for Miguel Soto.
535 reviews57 followers
June 28, 2023
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.
Profile Image for Helen Catherine Darby.
90 reviews
September 6, 2023
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.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews