Analysis Derided By Rationalists For His Inimitable Style

Derided by rationalists for his inimitable style, Gaudi folded function into form through an intuitive synthesis of the past, nature, and imagination that may have foreshadowed today’s architecture. Because of a fire in 1936 at the Sagrada Familia, many of Gaudi’s drawings and models have been lost leaving an incomplete biographical portrait. However, through analysis of his carefully incorporated mythical and natural allusions, and balance of light and geometry, one can piece together a more complete biographical picture. Additionally, by looking at Casa Battlo and Casa Mila, along with several innovative designs, a picture emerges of one who by returning to the origins foretells a prophetic architecture of the future. Gaudi was born in†¦show more content†¦Gaudi also took preparatory courses to get into architectural school and spent five years gaining his certification. While earning his credentials, Gaudi worked on several projects outside of the city of Barcelona. He was a lover of poetry and an insatiable learner, but he relished in the practical and preferred hands-on engagement with learning over drawings and critical theory regarding his creations. Gaudi’s practical approach to problem solving was an ingenuous confluence of experimentation and invention. He built and tested geometric and organic models using a system of weights, gravity, and photography to determine the capacity of load bearing a structure could endure and adjusted accordingly. This system of testing allowed for asymmetries, convex, and concave shapes, and volumes to penetrate and synthesize into harmonious and functional buildings, devices, and objects where Gaudi could unleash his full creative potential. Gaudi’s early work revealed Arabic and Gothic influences absorbed during his education. Examples can be seen in the Finca Guell (Figure 1), Casa Vicens (Figure 2), and Collegi de les Teresianes (Figure 3). While thorough investigation of these structures would be advantageous in assembling a more accurate biographical portrait of Gaudi, it exceeds the scope of this paper. Additionally, the assimilated role of nature in the form and content of Gaudi’s later structures reaches toward a more