Monday, December 6, 2010

Parc Guell: Gaudi's Wonderland

The architects, Bethany and Ed, have abducted us on an architectural scavenger hunt / exotic food eating spree. In the past week, we've seen the Alhambra, the Sagrada Familia, Torre Agbar, many lesser known, but equally amazing feats of design, as well as, tasted everything from snails to rabbit tails. Whew!

But more on all that later.

Finally today, we enjoyed a lazy afternoon meandering around the exotic and whimsical Parc Guell created by the famous architect from Barcelona, Antoni Gaudi.


Gaudi was a fervent Catholic who said he was driven to create art as a way to collaborate with the Creator. It certainly feels that way walking around the park as the structures appear to flow in and out of the plant life.


Just as there are no perfectly straight lines on the human body, nor are there any 90 degree angles in any of Gaudi's architectural works. Beth and Ed agree he must have used many a steel beam to reinforce these gently lilting columns which carry a lot of weight:


After being awestruck by the Sagrada Familia the day before, the architects were...


 ...less than impressed with the mish-mash of odd forms in Parc Guell:



I am enamored by it and love his use of colorful ceramic tiles interspersed between the 'melting rock formations':


Even if a bit curious, Parc Guell is an inviting place that begs to be explored:


2 comments:

  1. Can't wait to hear more - Maybe we'll need to come back out to 're-evaluate' Senor Gaudi.

    xoEd

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  2. Ah, the clown vs the architects - love the facial expressions!

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