Antoni Gaudí - 'Father' of quaint works

In the book '20 Outstanding Minds That Changed the World' , Antoni Gaudí is called a great architect, designing unique buildings inspired by nature.

'God's Architect'

In 1926, in Barcelona (Spain), a man was crossing the street. His eyes were blue, shining like a star, in contrast to his white hair. In the distance, you can see the spires of a bizarre church, looking like a giant anthill. The man took another step, and at that moment, a car came and crashed into him.

He was very famous, but when he got close, no one recognized him. Maybe because he looked like a beggar wandering the streets with his long beard and old, tattered clothes. His name was Antoni Placid Guillem Gaudí i Cornet , and his friends called him Gaudí.

When he was a child, Gaudí was diagnosed with rheumatism, so his limbs were always in pain. The doctor said that the warm sun and fresh air would help the boy get better. So Gaudí was in the Riudoms countryside all spring and summer. The trees, the rocks, the animals, the sky by day and the stars twinkling at night were all the most incredible sights the boy had ever seen. And he concluded that, only God has the ability to create those colors and shapes: spirals, cones, cylinders, sinusoids.

Portrait of Antoni Gaudi.

After that, Gaudí often thought about God. The boy often goes to church with his family. In class, he and his friends also talked a lot about God. He felt that God was sending him messages of his own, because he could see things others could not. So when the doctors told him that Gaudí's health was getting worse, that he wouldn't live much longer. He replied that they had no idea what they were talking about.

Gaudí was certain that he would do something special, it was this belief that helped him get through the difficult time. Since then, he has always had a wish that he could say thank God, tell God that he could feel all the beauty around him.

Riudoms is also where Gaudí's father Francisco had his workshop. In Gaudí's eyes, his father did indeed have the most beautiful profession in the world: a bronzesmith. He himself created stoves, copper or iron tools. Mr. Francisco can turn any piece of this metal into an object he wants. Gaudí decides to grow up to be like his father or like God: Build all things. Things that are big, useful and charming, look like tree stumps, ocean waves or spirals, protrusions, high and low freely, simulating natural caves.

That is why Gaudí was later nicknamed 'God's architect'. When someone asks where architects learn these things. He replied: 'From the tree near my workshop. It's my teacher'.

The work is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site

On the day Gaudí graduated, the headmaster said: 'Who knows if we give this certificate to an idiot or a genius. Time will answer'.

Indeed, Gaudí had a few odd habits. For example, he always has cake in his pocket to invite friends. Gaudí also carried books, but if they were too heavy, he would tear them up and carry only a few pages with him.

The young architect's first project was to design a street light for a square in Barcelona, ​​where Gaudí lived after graduating from university. He then designed buildings, gardens, schools, churches, furniture, even chairs for the queen of Spain.

For buildings, architects use basic materials such as stone, brick, wood or iron. He knows how to shape them. He also oversaw the work of stone cutters, blacksmiths, or any other craftsman to create what he envisioned.

Gaudí's works such as Casamila building, Casa Batllo building or Parc Guell park all have unique and strange designs that have never been created before.

Other architects could not understand how he was able to design buildings that were both unique, sturdy and safe.

However, Gaudí still finds he has not achieved his lifelong dream: A life-long work dedicated to God. Therefore, when asked to participate in the project of building the Sagrada Familia in honor of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Gaudí felt as if it were God's hand reaching out from heaven. way to make his dream come true.

At the time of this one-of-a-kind offer of value, Gaudí was 31 years old. He immediately got to work. He envisioned in his mind a religious work that made everyone love God, love Catalonia and love nature.

So he added a few messages to all the decorations, some easy to recognize, others only for those who really understood his message.

He worked hard on this great cathedral project for more than 30 years, while still completing many other works. But when his father and Gaudí's best friend died, he decided to devote all of his time and attention to the Sagrada Familia. He moved to a small room near the building, not going out or meeting people. He worked until he forgot to brush his hair, wash his face, and put on some clothes again and again.

One afternoon, around 5 p.m., Gaudí decided to go outside to relax. He had just come up with a new idea for the Cathedral so he crossed the street without looking around. A car hit him. After that, the newspapers all reported that the great architect had passed away and everything was over. Only his architectural works are timeless.

From 1984 to 2005, 7 of his works were recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites, which are: Casa Vincens Building, Sagrada Familia Church, Parc Guell Park, Colonia Guell Church's catacombs, and the Church of Colonia Guell. Casa Batllo building, Casa Mila building and Bellesguard building. The works are mainly located in Barcelona, ​​annually attracting millions of tourists to come here to admire and immerse themselves in the fairy world that Gaudi has painstakingly created.