Gaudi. the complete works - rainer zerbst

Packed full of expert texts and hundreds of full-color illustrations, this book presents Gauds complete oeuvre.

The life of Antoni Gaudí (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 glamorous 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.

Gaudís incomparable architecture channels much of this multifaceted intricacy.

From the shimmering textures and skeletal forms of Casa Batlló 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 magnum opus, the Sagrada Familia, is the most-visited monument in Spain, and seven of his works are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Through brand-new photography, plans and drawings by Gaudí himself, historical photos, as well as an appendix detailing all his works--from buildings to furniture, decor to unfinished projects--this book presents Gaudís universe like never before.

Like a personal tour through Barcelona, we discover how the Dante of architecture was a builder in the truest sense of the word, crafting extraordinary constructions out of minute and mesmerizing details, and transforming fantastical visions into realities on the city streets.