Palacio Güell, Gaudí’s Oriental Masterpiece
Barcelona owes a great many of its best-known buildings and landmarks to the genius mind of its most famous son, Antonio Gaudí. One building that’s perhaps not so well known – but that perfect encapsulates all that Gaudinian style – is Palacio Güell. Here, the Reus-born maestro perfectly combined all the best features of Catalan modernism with the most oriental touches to create a residence fit for one of Catalan society’s wealthiest families towards the end of the 19th century.
Eusebio Güell was fundamental in Gaudi’s professional career, entrusting him to design a multitude of amazing buildings. And one of his first commissions was to construct the family residence, Palacio Güell. At the time in 1886, Gaudí didn’t have a great deal of experience, and so had not yet developed the signature style that would bring him so much glory in later years. Proof of this are the variety of artistic solutions, up to twenty-five different designs in fact, on the palace’s façade alone. Despite initial doubts, the result is a modernist masterpiece that’s adapted to a more domestic context with features typical of oriental style without losing any of the shapes, colours or materials that would eventually mark Gaudí’s incomparable style.
Found on Calle Nou de la Rambla, Palacio Güell’s façade is an impressive three-story Garraf stone building where two large wrought iron gates once received guests arriving on horseback, hence their size and shape. The building served as the family’s main home until they later moved into their residence in Park Güell. In terms of interior design, the architect combined spaces where form and materials truly come to life, with artistic solutions adapted to intense social and family life. The Palace played host to all of Catalan high society, as well as providing a residence for the Güells and their ten children. Mudejar decoration is particularly apparent in the carved wood and iron ceilings. And the finishing touch is undoubtedly the rooftop. Gaudí’s design here is reminiscent of Casa Milà, a space of more than 400m2 featuring six large chimneys decorated with eye-catching ceramics.
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