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Gaudí (Basic Art)
From the towering Sagrada Família to the shimmering, textured façade of Casa Batlló and the enchanting landscape of Park Güell, it’s easy to see why Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) gained the epithet “God’s architect.” With fluid forms and mathematical precision, his work extols the wonder of natural columns soar like tree trunks, window frames curve like flowering branches, and ceramic tiling shimmers like scaly, reptilian skin. With this outstanding attention to natural detail, his inspirations from both neo-Gothic and Orientalist aesthetics, and a lifelong commitment to Catalan identity, Gaudí created a unique brand of the Modernista movement which transformed, and defines, Barcelona’s cityscape. With seven of Gaudí’s projects listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this book introduces the architect’s extraordinary vision and unique legacy, exploring the influences and the details which allow his buildings to impress, inspire, and amaze, one century after their construction.
- GenresArt
96 pages, Hardcover
Published July 15, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 13, 2024
Interessant. Kan het aanraden
February 13, 2025
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.
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.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews