Modernist Buildings

THE MAIN MODERNIST WORKS DECLARED WORLD HERITAGE BY UNESCO ARE:

Palau de la Música Catalana

A concert hall in Barcelona created by Lluis Domènech i Montaner, one of the leading representatives of Catalan Modernism. It was built between 1905 and 1908 and consists of large glass walls, sculptures, mosaics, stained glass and forges. It was commissioned by the Catalan Choral Society to establish their headquarters there. Currently all acts are performed: shows, plays, political and cultural events, etc. The main room gives a stunning acoustic making it a sacred place for music and has attracted the best batons in the world.

Hospital de San Pau

Designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner and his son Pere Domènech Roura built between 1902 and 1930 consists of 19 buildings that form a small modernist city inside the city of Barcelona connected by 1km of tunnels. Currently is part of the Private Foundation Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau (1401) and has been cataloged as of cultural interest, also received in 2001 the Gold Medal of the Generalitat of Catalonia.

Park Güell

The Park Güell began in 1900 and was the largest urban project of the nineteenth century in Europe. It is located in the upper part of the city of Barcelona on the Mount Carmel. It was designed by Gaudí commissioned by Eusebi Güell. Its construction took 14 years and did not open to the public until 12 years later. It is said it is inspired in the Temple of Apollo at Delphi so it is full of symbolism and natural elements. The work is a mythological, political, religious, historical and philosophical expression all surrounded by a mystery since in that time riddles and puzzles were common.

Sagrada Familia

The Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familiais a Catholic basilica designed by the master Gaudí. Its greatest feature is that it is not yet finished, it began in 1882 and it is the most ambitious work of Gaudí since he started it at the age of 31 and was devoted to it for the rest of his life. It is also the most visited monument in Spain with 3.2 million visitors. It consists of conical towers wide below and narrower at the top that stylize the facade, the project consisted on 18 towers, now there are only 8 and at the time of Gaudi's death only one tower was built. The portals of the Nativity and the Passion are already completed and they are currently working on the Gloria’s one. The Sagrada Familia was declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.

Casa Batlló

Casa Batllóis one of the original facades created by Gaudí. It was built between 1904 and 1906 in the Paseode Gracia, in the heart of the city. It has lots of colors because it is formed by glass and ceramic pieces. The roof is shaped like animal spine and scales. The windows are made of wood and natural elements as the floral columns and rooms that are filled with items that stir up an underwater world like the one of Jules Verne’s novels.

This work of 5000 m2 is not only art in every way, it is not only the work of architects but also of the rest of artisans who create gardens, forged iron and helped Gaudí to develop this building which is also a very functional work with advanced ventilation systems.

Casa Milá

Known asLa Pedrera it is a building located at 92 Paseo de Gracia designed by the architect Antonio Gaudi. Today it is a center that organizes cultural activities and has received over 20 million visits. It was built between 1906 and 1910 and it is called Milà house because it was commissioned by a couple named Pere Milà i Camps and Roser Segimon i Artells. It is a naturalistic work inspired by nature that breaks the rigid and rational elements to create something baroque and modern.

Casa Vicens

ThisArt Nouveau building is the first major work Gaudí created after graduating as an architect. It was built between 1883 and 1888 and is situated in the district of Gracia in Carolines Street Number 24. It is designed with straight lines, unlike the large curvatures of the later works, and an influence of various artistic styles such as Persian, Byzantine and Arabic can be appreciated. It has four floors and the façade is made of pieces of ceramic colors, which gives a colorful Arabic style. The naturist style is reflected in the garden, the wall with a fence of palm leaves, ceilings decorated with floral themes, walls decorated with vegetables...etc.

This house is not only a World Heritage by UNESCO but has also won other awards such as historical and artistic monument by Decree of July 24, 1969 and the Award for Best Building by the City Council after the 1925 reform by Joan Baptista Serra.