Who was Antoni Gaudí? Antoni Gaudí i Cornet was, and remains, one of the most distinctive and admired figures in Catalan architecture. His unmistakable, highly personal work transformed Barcelona’s skyline and brought Catalan modernism to the world. With a creative vision deeply connected to nature, light and symbolism, Gaudí designed spaces that still amaze today for their beauty, originality and emotional impact. His career was closely linked to Barcelona and its surroundings, although his architectural language reached far beyond. Today, the name Antoni Gaudí is associated with a living, organic and deeply personal architecture, capable of turning buildings into experiences. Early life of Antoni Gaudí: a childhood shaped by observation and sensitivity Antoni Gaudí was born in Reus on 25 June 1852, the son of Francesc Gaudí i Serra and Antònia Cornet i Bertran. From an early age, he grew up among the landscapes of the Baix Camp and in a family environment closely connected to craftsmanship. His childhood was marked by fragile health, which led him to spend long periods observing the landscape, plant forms and the rhythms of nature at Mas de la Calderera, a family farmhouse in Riudoms. This attentive, patient and curious outlook deeply influenced his artistic sensitivity and the way he would later understand architecture. Gaudí also grew up in an environment where craftsmanship played a daily role. His father was a coppersmith, and this close contact with materials, forms and manual work helps explain why, in his mature work, architecture is never separated from matter, detail or craftsmanship. Education and the beginning of his career as an architect At the age of 17, Gaudí moved to Barcelona to study architecture, in a city experiencing a period of cultural and urban vitality. He studied at the Barcelona Provincial School of Architecture, graduating in 1878, at a time when the Catalan capital was beginning to project a new, modern and ambitious image. From this period comes the famous phrase attributed to the school’s director, Elies Rogent: “We have awarded this degree to either a madman or a genius – time will tell.” During his training years, Gaudí combined academic learning with hands-on experience in workshops, working alongside craftsmen and professionals, which allowed him to understand architecture as a combination of disciplines. Mature years of Antoni Gaudí: austerity, recognition and total dedication During his mature years, Antoni Gaudí became an increasingly singular figure, both in his approach to architecture and in his lifestyle. He was austere and reserved, dedicating much of his time to work, family and a rather small circle of friends. Those who knew him highlight his strong personality, great intelligence, sensitivity and complete dedication to his work. This period also reflects an increasingly austere and introspective Gaudí. In 1906, he bought a house in Park Güell, where he moved in with his father and niece. That same year his father died, and in 1912 his niece, Rosa Egea Gaudí, also passed away. These personal losses further deepened a life already focused on work and marked by a gradual withdrawal from social life. By this time, his fame had become international. In 1910, an exhibition dedicated to his work was held at the Salon of the Société des Beaux-Arts in Paris, a clear sign of the international recognition he was beginning to achieve.