Crypt at the Colonia Guell Antoni Gaudi

Summary

The crypt at Colonia Güell, designed by Antoni Gaudí, was intended as the base of a larger church that was never completed. Gaudí's innovative architecture defied modernist norms, aiming to express structural integrity and the forces at play in a building. His experiments with form and structure were ahead of their time, echoing the work of other modernists but with a distinct focus on organic and symbolic design. The crypt blends gothic, baroque, and mudéjar influences, creating a space rich in metaphor and mythology, representing a unique and visionary achievement in architecture.

Takeaways

• 😀 Anthony Gowdy was invited by industrialist Yusevi de Guell in 1898 to design a church for a new industrial village south of Barcelona.
• 😀 The building discussed is the crypt of a much larger, unfinished church, part of an uncompleted project.
• 😀 Gowdy's design for the crypt is one of many projects, including Casa Batlló and Casa Milà, where he explored modern architecture for a culturally emerging Catalonia.
• 😀 Gowdy's modernist experiments predate those of famous architects like Le Corbusier, Gropius, and Mies van der Rohe, but differ significantly in approach.
• 😀 Northern modernists focused on technology and purity of form, while Gowdy sought to explore deeper aspects of structure, space, light, and material.
• 😀 Gowdy's architecture resembles fantastical imagery, but he went further, integrating structure and function in a way that reflected natural forces.
• 😀 Gowdy used a model called the 'funicular,' suspended upside down with weights, to demonstrate the correct arrangement of structural elements based on force lines.
• 😀 Unlike traditional modernism, Gowdy viewed the building load not as abstract, but as a force expressed through his innovative structural designs.
• 😀 The crypt's columns and spaces seem carved from the ground, creating a sense of tension and physicality, unlike typical column designs.
• 😀 The design incorporates symbolic references, such as animal bones, skin-like walls, and stained glass windows that connect with the walls like an eye to an eyelid.
• 😀 The crypt's symbolism doesn't align with traditional Christian themes but evokes a darker, mythological underworld with references to creatures like dragons and owls.
• 😀 Gowdy’s work is sometimes linked to the Gothic and Baroque, but the influence of the Mudéjar style seems to be more relevant in his design choices.
• 😀 The crypt at Colonia Güell stands as a remarkable achievement in architecture and demonstrates that the path of modern architecture in the early 20th century was not inevitable.

Q & A

Who invited Antoni Gaudí to design the church at Colonia Güell, and why was the project significant?

Antoni Gaudí was invited by industrialist Eusebi Güell to design a church for the industrial village Güell was building south of Barcelona. The project was significant because it marked Gaudí's early experiments with modern architecture, aimed at expressing a new architectural style suited to the modern and culturally emerging Catalonia.

What is the crypt at Colonia Güell, and what was its original purpose?

The crypt at Colonia Güell was intended to be the basement or lower level of a much larger church. The full structure was never completed, and what remains is the crypt, which serves as a significant architectural example of Gaudí's work.

How did Antoni Gaudí’s approach to modernism differ from other modernist architects of his time?

Gaudí's approach to modernism differed from other contemporary architects like Le Corbusier, Gropius, and Mies van der Rohe by focusing on organic, expressive forms inspired by nature, rather than minimalism or technological advances. He sought to integrate structure, space, light, and material in ways that were deeply symbolic and organic.

What role did technology play in the work of northern modernist architects compared to Gaudí's work?

Northern modernists, such as Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe, saw technology as a way to move forward in architecture, emphasizing purity in form and the use of industrial materials. Gaudí, on the other hand, was less concerned with technology and more focused on exploring the natural world to create architectural forms that expressed structural integrity.

How did Gaudí's model called the 'funicular' demonstrate his innovative approach to structural design?

Gaudí’s funicular model demonstrated his innovative approach by using suspended weights and thin wires to model how forces are transferred in a building structure. By inverting the model, Gaudí revealed the ideal arrangement of structural elements based on the natural flow of forces, rather than abstract or conventional design methods.

What symbolic elements can be found in the design of the crypt at Colonia Güell?

The design of the crypt incorporates symbolic elements, such as columns resembling animal bones and walls that appear to be protected by old skin. The stained glass windows are also symbolic, connecting with the walls like an eye to an eyelid. These elements suggest a blend of natural, mythological, and mystical symbolism.

How does the plan of the crypt at Colonia Güell differ from traditional Christian church plans?

The plan of the crypt at Colonia Güell does not conform to traditional Christian church layouts. Instead, it reflects a more unconventional design influenced by mythology, such as references to the underworld, amphibians, owls, and dragons, offering a more symbolic and non-traditional interpretation of religious space.

What influence is suggested in Gaudí's work at Colonia Güell, and why is this significant?

It is suggested that Gaudí's work was influenced by the traditional Mudéjar style rather than Gothic or Baroque styles, as is sometimes claimed. This is significant because it highlights Gaudí’s unique blend of cultural and regional influences, rather than relying on the more established architectural traditions of the time.

What did the unfinished nature of the church at Colonia Güell contribute to its architectural value?

The unfinished nature of the church at Colonia Güell contributes to its architectural value by making it a powerful example of Gaudí's explorations in structural and symbolic design. The lack of completion allows for a unique interpretation of Gaudí’s vision, where the unfinished building becomes an integral part of the structure’s meaning.

How do Gaudí's works, such as the crypt at Colonia Güell, reflect broader cultural movements in early 20th-century architecture?

Gaudí’s works, like the crypt at Colonia Güell, reflect broader cultural movements in early 20th-century architecture by challenging conventional architectural forms and exploring new ways to express modern Catalan identity. His emphasis on organic shapes, structural integrity, and symbolic meaning positioned his work as an important precursor to later modernist movements.