Park Guell Architecture & Design | Gaudi's Modernisme Marvel

Spread across 17 hectares, Park Guell is a municipal garden featuring architectural elements. Situated on the hill of El Carmel in the Gràcia district of Barcelona, Park Guell is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Designed skillfully in a way that the various architectural structures, flamboyant and eye-grabbing, manage to remain inconspicuous against the landscape of the park. Curved lines, elements inspired by nature, and motifs of Catalan nationalism all work together to make Park Guell an architectural marvel.

Development of Catalan Modernisme

In the context of the political and economic background, there was a growing urge to return to and revindicate Catalan roots. It was this push that allowed for the development of Modernism, in contrast to the way in which Art Nouveau developed in other parts of Europe during the 20th century, as an expression of the Zeitgeist at the time.

Modernisme in Catalan, hence, had a unique nature, as opposed to the rest of Europe. The cultural resurgence and desire for modernization also allowed this movement to go beyond architecture and shape visual arts, language, literature, and even music. While the ways in which this idea played out differed, the works were designed to reflect the cosmopolitan culture in Barcelona. 

In 1878, Lluís Domenèch i Montaner,  who was a politician, physician, artist, writer, and architect, published an article "In search of a national architecture" in which he laid down his theories of an independent Catalan architecture. He put these theories into practice and designed a cafe for the World Exhibition in 1888. The cafe was the first Modernisme building in Barcelona, and hence, is considered to be the moment that marks the beginning of the Modernisme.

Soon enough, buildings in the new modernist style came to be seen as not only a sign of prestige but also of the Catalan patriotism of the patron. With Barcelona expanding, and a higher population of aristocrats, the city's skyline was like an empty canvas ready to be transformed. 

As with any change, Modernism met with resistance. In 1906, journalist and art critic Eugeni d'Ors started arguing against the Modernisme and made the case for Noucentisme (roughly translated “movement of the new (20th) century”). By 1910, Modernisme began declining, after it began gaining the reputation of being an opulent style. The straight lines and functional forms of Noucentisme began being preferred over the extravagant modernist façades. Some artistes of the Modernisme, such as the architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch, adjusted to the scene, while others disappeared. Gaudi continued his work through the Sagrada Familia from 1912 until his death.

Religious Motifs at Park Guell

Antoni Gaudi was a devout Christian and the influence on religion can be found across his works. You will find many crosses with four arms, a style distinct to Gaudi, throughout the park. Each of the four arms of the cross to one of the cardinal points, and a fifth one points to the sky.

The most important of the crosses in Park Guell is located on the Calvary Hill, or the El turó de les Tres Creus (The Hill of Three Crosses). Two of the crosses point to the four cardinal points, while the third one is shaped like an arrow pointed to the sky.