The site is in Spanish and is put together by Michele Palamara (an Italian architect).
As you may know, 2002 has been declared the "A�o Internacional Gaud�" ("International Year of Gaud�") and will be celebrated with loads of activities and expositions (spring-summer 2002).
Just waking up this old thread that nobody seems to care about
After my 2 trips to Barcelona in the last 2 weeks, I wanted to report on "Gaud�man�a".
The city of Barcelona has gone all out in the promotion of it's most famous architect but I did not notice longer lines nor more people doing the "Gaud� thang" as during previous visits to BCN in past years.
Maybe there are a lot more but since they have soooo many events going on for the "A�o Gaud� 2002", the crowds are just more spread out so I did not notice the difference.
Everywhere one looks however, they see a reference to Gaud� or one of his colaborators.
Hey Jer! I'm not even barely educated about Gaudi, but I was looking through my mom's really old art book, and he has alot of stuff in it, which means something if it's in this book! Anyhow, just wanted to let you know, and to post in your topic so it would get some action.
Smiley
Posts: 19 | Location: East Longmeadow, MA, USA | Registered: 29 August 2002
The reason that this thread is not popular here is the difference in cultures. When you see people in America and their interests what are they? American Idol and Survivor..Puhleez. Artistic flare is more popular in Spain. When you look at Architects now as compared to Gaudi's time they were like Picasso or Dali, people cared what they are doing because they made beautiful things. American architects are reduced to doing mostly boring square buildings that are more functional because the clients want to squeeze every square inch of office space out of it while keeping the bottom line under budget. I have been following the year of Gaudi from Utah because I think that his buildings contain the type of vision that keep artists alive. Always trying something different and expanding on it. Especiall Sagrada Familia...you do not appreciate the detail of it until you climb all 375 steps to the top of the center spire, look out over the most beautiful city in the world and realize, "holy crap, the color on this building is no more than a bunch of tiny pieces of colored glass stuck in mortar".
Oderant dum Metuant
Posts: 109 | Location: Barcelona, Catalunya | Registered: 16 November 2002
Hi Shiloh, welcome to our online family, not much action on the board on weekends but glad you popped in here to this thread.
Yes, your observation is sad but true I guess I assumed that since this is a board for Spain lovers, things might be different, wishful thinking.
quote:
"American architects are reduced to doing mostly boring square buildings"
Tell me about it, I spent most of my childhood and early adult life on Long Island, stripmall capital of the world Besides, the top architects in the big firms in architecture probably have their interns (subordinates) do the designs for most buildings, they are either too important or short on time to put any real effort in Gaud� certainly was unique in his attention to everything he did. Poor guy died as a consecuence of his daydreaming, probably thinking about some detail of one of his pieces of artwork when he got hit by that trolley
quote:
"...you do not appreciate the detail of it until you climb all 375 steps to the top of the center spire, look out over the most beautiful city in the world..."
Hmmmmmmmm, since when can one see Madrid from atop the Sagrada Familia?
Saludos, jer...
p.d. I love your signature!!! You sound like an emperor born too late
Shiloh, I disagree with why this thread is not more popular. But anyways... its really cool about the gaudi year... but unless you can actually GO, well... what are you going to do?! Jer, also, so many of his works are easier to appreciate on the larger scale, or from the outside (not all of the apt. buildings you can get in- and the ones you can, often are limited) So its easier to see from pictures- and avoid the long lines!
I hadn't seen this thread before But I think Gaudi was a wild man, I love his art! I am a fan, and if I were able to go to Barcelona at all this year, I'd see more!
Also, Iberia is having a special that gives a pass to one of the museums or something... details are listed on their website, so if any of you are taking Iberia to Spain... there's still time!
Siguiendo mi propio Camino de Santiago
Posts: 387 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 19 October 2002
Just read this written by Maureen Lipman which made me laugh!!
"Can you imagine the 19th century town planners in Barcelona! Yeah, yeah, sure Toni, sure. Right lets get this straight. You want 12 spires shaped like barley sugar on top of the church, right? With crushed coffee cups and bits of mirror squashed into them?! Yeah, right, I�ve got that!! Oh, and seaweed shaped balconies and a cubist Christ? No, no of course I�m not laughing Toni, honest!!!
________________________________________ Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional
I was very disappointed this last February when I was in Barcelona and saw Sagrada family. I can't believe they are using concrete to construct it...my opinion; they should build it in the traditional style.
Oderant dum Metuant
Posts: 109 | Location: Barcelona, Catalunya | Registered: 16 November 2002
On a piece of land on the Muntanya pelada, in the Barcelona district of Salut, Eusebi G�ell wanted to build an urbanisation inspired by the concept of the garden city. In this he sought to return to nature, health and an escape from the insalubrious industrial city.
Mainly assisted by Rubi�, Berenguer and Jujol, Gaud� worked on the construction of this park between 1900 and 1914, and even moved his home there in 1906.
Between 1900 and 1903 the main buildings of the Park G�ell were constructed; walls, the main stairway, pavilions etc. the pavilions stand out for their imaginative, lyrical and chromatic nature, as well as the expressiveness of elements such as the tower crowned by the four armed cross.
The chimneys in the form of a mushroom � amanita muscaria � are an aesthetic and symbolic reference traditionally connected to the world of magic and fairytales, of druids and shamans and of gnomes and witches.
�Les Tres Creus�
Climbing on up, by what is today a surfaced path, some stone benches hang in empty space from one of these passageways. Between them, there are some tall planters, supported by the columns which are topped by agave plants. These are the origin of the rumour in Europe that Gaud� built trees out of stone. �Treballs en Pedra� in Catal�n.
Continue up to the summit of Monta�a Pelada, where Gaud� and G�ell had intended to build a chapel. In the end a stone Edifice was built, with three crosses, which explain its name �Les Tres Creus� in Catal�n.
From here you can admire a view of the city of Barcelona totally different from the usual ones, such as from Tibidabo or Montj�ic.
On the way down, it is almost obligatory, and also a suitable homage to the creator of this original landscape mountain, to visit the casa museo Gaud�, where the Architect lived from 1906 to 1926.
He left the house to go and live in the Temple of the Sagrada Familia eight months before his death, the story of which is common knowledge � that he suffered a traffic accident, and was knocked down by a tram. He first lived here with some relatives and later alone. Every working day, at eight in the morning, he would leave to go to his building sites, and especially the one he loved most, his Temple, returning at nightfall. see here;- Sagrada Familia
This return journey he made on foot, in conformance with his idea that human beings should walk ten kilometers every day, the distance from the Park to the Temple, to San Felipe Neri (next to the Cathedral) and back again to the Park.
THIS IS ON A PLAQUE AT THE 3 CROSSES
LES TRES CREUS
Tur� de les mens o de les tres creus
CATAL�
Dit aixi pels filons de mineral de ferro en explotaci� fins a les darreries del segle XIX.
Gaud� va projectar per aquest indret una capella i posteriorment una creu de 8,50m d�al�ada, Ambd�s projectes van ser desestimats.
Finalment edific� un promontori amb tres creus, un calvari, que recorda els talaiots balears.
Tur� de les mens o de les tres creus
EN CASTELLANO
Su nombre, �Les Menes� hace referencia a los filones de mineral de hierro que estuvieron en explotacion hasta finales del siglo XIX.
Gaud� proyecto para este lugar una capilla y posteriormente una cruz de 8,50m de altura, ambos proyectos fueron desestimados.
Finalmente edific� un promontorio con tres cruces, un calvario, que recuerda a los talayotes Baleares.
Tur� de les mens o de les tres creus
In English
The name �Les Menes� refers to the seams of Iron Ore that were mined here until the end of the 19th century.
For this spot, Gaud� had planned a chapel, and later a cross standing 8,50m high, but both those plans were abandoned.
In the end a promontory was built with three crosses, as a Calvary and reminiscent of the Talaiot Megalithic monuments of the Balearic Islands.
In memory of a Truly Great Man. The greatest source of Inspiration for Millions of people, Artists & Architects & designers all around the world, for more than a Century
Antoni Gaud� will never be forgotten, he is as alive today, as are his works of Art & his creations.
Lying to the north of the Sierra de Collserola, and marking the upper limits of the district of Gracia � a separate township until 1897, and even today a suburb with a distinctive character � there was a mountain, whose summit is Tibidabo, know as �Monta�a Pelada� (the Bald Mountain) because of its scant vegetation. In those days, there were only a few big estates there, such as Can Montaner de Dalt, and other smaller properties given over to farming the land. But by a series of coincidences, and within a very few years, this somewhat neglected terrain was destined to become one of the most important architectural monumental environments; a park which would, in time, achieve the title of �Monument of Humanity�
It was the idea of Don Eusebi G�ell i Bacigalupi, an industrial entrepreneur and great patron of the arts, champion of all things fine and constructive and in anyway able to contribute to the development of Catalunya.
G�ell had spent a long time in England, and had heard that in London, 30 km out in the suburbs, also near Leicester and elsewhere in places like Letchworth and Hampstead Garden, they were building what were called �Garden Cities�; know today as �Housing Developments�.
This entailed the founding of a town and the provision of all the essential services for its inhabitants, in one simultaneous operation. G�ell returned to Barcelona fired with the idea of doing something similar, and even finishing �his� Garden City before the English, and therefore building the first housing development in the world.
He entrusted its study and planning to the architect Antonio Gaud�, who set to work on the preparation of the mountain, which G�ell had bought � that is, the estate known as Can Montaner de Dalt, together with other smaller properties.
The construction began in early 1900, and was to be carried out in three phases. Although the third phase was never completed, this development was still intended to provide sixty lots for single - family houses. But the years went by, and the citizens of Barcelona did not buy them. In those days, at the beginning of the last century, its position was thought to be rather isolated, and too far away from the city.
And so this project, in which G�ell had invested so many dreams, was considered a failure. Only three of the sixty houses planned were built; Can Montaner de Dalt which extended and renovated, was to become the residence of its owner, Don Eusebi G�ell; the house of the lawyer Tr�as Dom�nech, work of the architect Juli Batllevell; and a third house, built to a design by Francesc Berenguer, and bought by Antoni Gaud� in 1906, who was to live there until shortly before his death in 1926.
These three houses are still in existence. Today, G�ell�s house is a school; the Tr�as house still belongs to the family; and the third has become a commemorative museum, the Casa-Museo Gaud�.
That, in brief, is the story of this park, constructed at the will of Eusebi G�ell, and turned into a masterpiece of creative genius by his chief Architect & good friend.
Its failure was partly due to G�ell�s death in 1918, shortly before the end of what was know as the European War � work on G�ell�s property had already been suspended in 1914, at the onset of that war.
After the suspension of the work, some years passed before the park was finally acquired in 1922 by the Ayuntamiento of Barcelona.
Between that time and the present, this creation of Gaud� has acquired an extraordinary prestige throughout the world, and Park G�ell has come to represent almost the essence of its city, so much so that a visit here is almost compulsory for anyone wishing to get to know the real Barcelona.
In memory of Don Eusebi G�ell
Posts: 696 | Location: Santander | Registered: 11 August 2003
There you go Jer, I thought that I would just give this thread a little revival for you, seeing as I have just come back from Barcelona, and made my usual rounds of my favourite places. I would like to have posted 1 or 2 pics on here with the text, showing the 3 crosses, I took some new pics of, but can't, because I don't have a website at the moment.
:cheers:
Posts: 696 | Location: Santander | Registered: 11 August 2003
(in Catal�n, Spanish and English)
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at 
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at 
Besides, the top architects in the big firms in architecture probably have their interns (subordinates) do the designs for most buildings, they are either too important or short on time to put any real effort in 
Gaud� certainly was unique in his attention to everything he did. Poor guy died as a consecuence of his daydreaming, probably thinking about some detail of one of his pieces of artwork when he got hit by that trolley 
I am a fan, and if I were able to go to Barcelona at all this year, I'd see more! 
