The Park Guell – Antonio Gaudi

Barcelona, Spain 1900-1914

Antonio Gaudi’s elaborate style of design with unique curves, pavilions, columns, staircases, and exuberance of colorful textured surfaces can be seen in his most breathtaking of works, The Park Guell. Antonio Gaudi was commissioned by Eusebi Guell to create a garden city for Barcelona aristocracy. The project failed commercially, Eusebi failed to sell one house, but the property was then acquired by the city in 1918 and turned into a public park. The park is surrounded by a wall of undressed stone. The park has seven entrances and the undulating top of the wall is covered with ceramic fragments, looking like a mosaic. Medallions with the work “Park” or “Guell” punctuate the wall. The wall illustrates to visitors what they will be encountering inside the park. Two houses were built in the park, each with curved roofs which were highlighted with colored tiles like mosaics once again. Pavilions were also designed to look like they came out of the Hansel and Gretel story. The best and most well-known symbol of the park is the dragon fountain at the center of the staircase leading up to the houses. The staircase is dotted with fragmented tiles. At the very top of the park is the serpentine bench. Connecting staircases lead you up towards the serpentine bench where the area was originally meant to become a market place. Sitting on the serpentine bench leaves you with a view of the whole park, buildings, pavilions, and the Mediterranean sea.