There have been many talented architects around the world, but my personal favorite is Antoni Gaudí. Gaudí was born on June 25, 1852 in Catalonia, and died on June 10, 1926. During his life, Gaudi broke away from many of the established rules about architecture, following a Modernist style that defies specific classification. For example, Gaudi tried to avoid using straight lines in his work as a way to incorporate nature. Also, Gaudi’s process relied heavily on trial and error. He never drew plans for his buildings but instead created three dimensional models to more accurately portray what he saw in his mind.
Gaudi has designed many unique structures in Barcelona, such as Casa Batllo, La Pedrera and Park Guell that reflect his originality and creativity, but the most famous and special, is the Sagrada Familia.
In 1883, Gaudi took charge of a project that had already been started by the diocese architect Francisco del Villar to construct the Sagrada Familia. He immediately revised the plans to imbue them with aspects of the natural world. He found ways, through his study of geometry, to create shapes that mimic the forms he observed in nature. For example, in the interior of the church, the columns are inclined like trees and branch out in different directions. Gaudi tried to improve upon Gothic forms using self-supporting modules, thereby avoiding buttresses in the Sagrada Familia and allowing more natural light to come through the structure.
The Sagrada Familia is still not complete! After Gaudi’s death, other architects, guided by his master plans, have been working to complete the structure.It is scheduled for completion in the year 2026! Although the Sagrada Familia is already a symbol of Barcelona and attracts millions of tourists every year, it will surely grow in its power and mystique when it is finished in two years.