Antoni Gaudí

Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) was a Catalan architect whose buildings combine sculptural forms, elaborate ornament, and innovative structural design. Several of his works are landmarks of Barcelona.

Catenary arch: An arch shaped like an inverted hanging chain, which carries loads mainly in compression. Gaudí used hanging-chain models to derive efficient forms for arches and vaults.
Sagrada Família: A monumental basilica in Barcelona designed by Gaudí and still under construction after his death. Its branching columns, geometric forms, and sculpted façades bring together his mature ideas.
Eusebi Güell: A Catalan industrialist and patron who commissioned major projects from Gaudí. Güell’s commissions gave Gaudí opportunities to develop ambitious architectural experiments.
Funicular model: A structural model made from hanging chains or cords whose forms represent compression paths when inverted. Gaudí’s hanging models helped determine shapes that could stand under their own weight.
UNESCO World Heritage Site: A place recognized under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention for cultural or natural significance. Seven Gaudí properties in or near Barcelona received World Heritage recognition.
Ruled surface: A surface formed by moving a straight line through space along prescribed paths. Ruled surfaces gave Gaudí complex curved forms that builders could construct from straight elements.
Park Güell: A public park in Barcelona developed from a planned housing estate designed by Gaudí. Its serpentine bench, viaducts, and mosaic surfaces show his fusion of landscape and architecture.
Josep Maria Jujol: A Catalan architect and designer who collaborated with Gaudí on several projects. Jujol contributed color, surface design, and craft to works including Park Güell.
Hyperbolic paraboloid: A doubly curved surface that can be generated by straight lines and has a saddle-like shape. Gaudí used this geometry to create expressive surfaces with straightforward construction methods.
Barcelona: A city in northeastern Spain and the capital of Catalonia. Gaudí’s buildings have become defining parts of the city’s architecture and international image.

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