Today is the birthday of Antoni Gaudí, one of the most famous and recognizable architects in the world, often considered the father of the Catalan Modernista movement. If the revolutionary architect were still alive today, he’d be 161 years old. Of course since he passed away in 1926, the world has changed. Yet his designs still stand proudly in the city he loved so much and called home: Barcelona.
He transformed the landscape of his native Barcelona with his whimsical, imaginative, and elaborate designs.
His works are so spectacular that seven of them became UNESCO World Heritage Sites
In honor of his birthday, here are some pictures of some of Gaudí’s greatest landmark constructions.
The Sagrada Familia, today a Roman Catholic church, is considered Gaudí’s magnum opus. Gaudí never finished construction on the Sagrada Familia; he died in 1926, when less than a quarter of the project was complete.
Construction continues on the emblematic building today. It’s expected to be completed by 2028–almost 145 years after construction began.
The church interior is spectacular, with its stained-glass windows and 45-meter- (148-ft.-) high nave. The columns in the nave are designed to evoke an organic feeling of being surrounded by trees and branches.
Parc Güell is a public park filled with eclectic sculptures, landscaping, and monuments. Gaudí built the park between 1900 and 1914.
The colorful mosaic lizard greets park goers at the entrance to Parc Güell.
Casa Milà is better known as “La Pedrera.” Gaudí constructed this apartment building between 1905 and 1910.
The roof of La Pedrera is covered in chimneys known as espanta bruixes (witch scarers).
Gaudí restored the Casa Batlló (originally constructed in 1877) between 1904 and 1906. The facade is covered in mosaic tiles and feels skeletal.
The arched roof of the Casa Batlló evokes a dragon’s back.
Gaudí built the Casa Vicens for a private family between 1883 and 1889.
Now see some more incredible modern architecture.
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