Barcelona's City Icon: Gaudí's Sagrada Família

Gaudí's father was a blacksmith who owned his own workshop. Growing up in the workshop, Gaudí watched his father transform a single sheet of metal into containers and ornaments of various shapes. Gaudí admitted that his ability to imagine three-dimensional forms from flat surfaces likely came from observing his father's work as a child. Gaudí's Sagrada Família perfectly showcases his three-dimensional thinking. The stones here appear to twist and curve like lumps of clay, with not a single rigid straight line. The reliefs on the facade walls depict vivid biblical stories, easily understood even by those who cannot read. The columns inside the church resemble trees in a tropical rainforest, and the stained glass changes the interior colors as sunlight shifts throughout the day. Each year, 50,000 tourists visit this site, meaning someone enters every two seconds. When Gaudí died, only one of the four facades had been completed. Yet even this quarter is enough to make you pause for a long time, searching among the dazzling carvings for familiar biblical stories. Construction of the church began in 1882 and is expected to be completed in 2026, the centenary of Gaudí's death. Although we visited an unfinished church, with many newly added sections no longer following Gaudí's original architectural plans, this does not diminish the awe he inspires.

Gaudí's architectural philosophy was not favored by his teachers even when he designed his graduation project. His architectural forms were deemed too avant-garde, but they caught the admiration of the wealthy businessman Eusebi Güell. Güell not only hired Gaudí to design his own home but also introduced him to his elite circle of friends. After Gaudí gained fame with the construction of Casa Vicens, the wealthy businessman Batlló invited him to build a residence. At that time, Passeig de Gràcia was a place for merchants to flaunt their wealth, with stylish apartments and mansions sprouting up beyond the old city walls. Batlló hoped Gaudí would make his home a stunning showpiece—in short, money was no object, and Gaudí was free to be bold. Casa Batlló is a mansion that fulfilled all of Gaudí's visions. Just to depict the color of seawater, he used 15,000 blue tiles in five progressive shades, arranged from light to dark on the courtyard walls. The upper facade mimics the shape of a dragon, with undulating tiles representing scales and twisting stone columns representing the dragon's spine, while the surface uses tiles of different colors to create the effect of a lake. Many people linger before entering and after touring, unwilling to leave, looking up in admiration at the exquisite shapes and intricate patterns. Every detail inside the apartment—including furniture, stair railings, door handles, and fireplaces—was designed and realized by Gaudí himself.

After this stunning success, another wealthy businessman, Pere Milà, commissioned Gaudí to build a residence that could rival Casa Batlló. This became Casa Milà, located just 700 meters away across the street. Because the entire exterior is clad in large stone blocks, it is nicknamed "La Pedrera" (the quarry). Due to budget constraints, Casa Milà's facade lacks the dazzling colors of Casa Batlló, appearing more subdued and plain. Once inside Casa Milà, you are again captivated by Gaudí's ever-changing architectural inspirations. Since Barcelona enjoys abundant sunshine year-round, shade and heat avoidance are key considerations for any building in the city. Through Gaudí's design of window angles and courtyards, Casa Milà can achieve natural cooling in summer without the need for air conditioning. The chimney stacks on the rooftop terrace stand like alien warriors in the city center, earning it the name "Terrace of the Warriors." Inside, Gaudí designed spacious living spaces for each apartment, complete with water heaters, bathtubs, elevators, and parking. He brought modern convenience to every corner of daily life.