Antonio Gaudi
The statement was made in the centenary year of the great architect’s death and became one of the most notable cultural events of the anniversary year.
The building is located about 130 kilometers from Barcelona, in the Bergeda district, amidst a mountainous landscape. It was commissioned in 1905 by the industrialist and philanthropist Eusebi Güell, a longtime patron of Gaudí. The chalet was designed to house the cement company’s engineers, many of whom came from the UK to work in the mines that supplied the factory with fuel.
Architectural “signatures” of the master
For a long time, the authorship of the building was controversial, writes The Guardian. Researchers drew attention to the characteristic features of the naturalistic style – plastic forms reminiscent of natural motifs, as well as arched structures, anticipating the solutions realized in later masterpieces of the master.
Now Catalan experts have officially confirmed that the project was indeed designed by Gaudi, although the further course of construction took place without his direct participation.
The architecture of the chalet traces elements familiar from such works as Park Güell and Casa Batlló. The stepped arches and the organic integration of the building into the natural terrain echo his main creation, the Sagrada Familia.
An anniversary against the backdrop of large-scale construction
The Catalan Minister of Culture called the confirmation of authorship the result of years of research, emphasizing that the discovery greatly enriches the architect’s legacy in the anniversary year.
Experts note that the attribution of architectural objects requires a much more complex analysis than the authentication of paintings: archives, construction methods, design drawings and stylistic features are studied.
The anniversary coincides with an active phase of work at the Sagrada Familia. In June, it is planned to complete the installation of the illuminated cross on the central tower of Jesus Christ. When completed, the tower will reach a height of 172.5 meters, making it the tallest building in Barcelona and the tallest Christian church in the world.
A legacy that continues to grow
Gaudi devoted the last years of his life exclusively to working on the cathedral. He tragically died on June 10, 1926 after being hit by a streetcar in Barcelona. Construction of the cathedral was interrupted during the Spanish Civil War, but in the late 20th century, amid the tourist boom following the 1992 Olympics, the pace of work accelerated considerably.
Nevertheless, difficult decisions remain ahead. Completion of the Glory façade may take another ten years or so, and the realization of the grand staircase envisioned in Gaudi’s original design will require extensive reconstruction of the surrounding urban environment.
The confirmation of the authorship of the mountain chalet not only completes the picture of Gaudi’s creative path, but also demonstrates that even after a century his legacy continues to be discovered from new sides.
