Gaudi, 2nd Ed.

The life of Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926) was full of complexity and contradictions. As a young man he joined the Catalonian nationalist movement and was critical of the church, toward the end of his life he devoted himself completely to the construction of one single spectacular church, La Sagrada Familia. In his youth, he courted a glamourous social life and the demeanor of a dandy.By the time of his death in a tram accident on the streets of Barcelona his clothes were so shabby passersby assumed he was a beggar. Gaudi's incomparable architecture channels much of this multifaceted intricacy. From the shimmering surface textures and skeletal forms of Casa Batllo to the Hispano-Arabic matrix of Casa Vicens, his work merged the influences of Orientalism, natural forms, new materials, and religious faith into a unique Modernista aesthetic.Today, his unique aesthetic enjoys global popularity and acclaim. His magnus opus, the Sagrada Familia, is the most-visited monument in Spain and seven of his works are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Through hundreds of full-color illustrations, drawings, plans, and historical photos, this book presents Gaudi's complete oeuvre.Like a personal tour through Barcelona, we explore his residential, religious, and public projects. We see how the ",Dante of architecture", was a builder in the truest sense of the word, crafting extraordinary constructions out of minute and mesmerizing details, transforming fantastical visions into realities on the city streets.