Did you know Park Guell was originally intended to be a residential estate but was abandoned due to financial difficulties and a lack of interest? Or
Gaudí lived in one of the two showhouses within the park from 1906 until he died in 1926.
Such interesting facts make Park Guell a place not to miss.
Antoni Gaudí, one of Spain’s most famous architects, designed the park, but its history is more complex than you might think.
Interested in learning more? Dive in to learn the Park Guell facts.
1. Planned to be a Residential Estate
Eusebi Güell commissioned Antoni Gaudí to create a house project on a significant estate.
According to the plan, development on Park Guell began in October 1900.
However, the project failed, and only two residences were erected within the estate by 1914, when it was abandoned.
Many other projects, such as the Hypostyle Room, were finished, and Park Guell was transformed into a private garden where events would be held.
Park Guell first opened to the public in 1926 as a municipal park.
2. Nature-Inspired Its Design
Antoni Gaudí’s passion for the natural world is visible in his works, especially in Park Guell.
The park’s design is created to blend in with the natural setting in which it was located, working with the topography of the mountain.
His dedication to natural creation principles is the reason for the lack of straight lines in his creations.
Undulating lines or curves replicate natural structures such as trees, shells, plants, and rocks throughout Park Guell.
3. Named after Gaudí’s Patron
Have you ever wondered where the park got its name? The answer is straight.
The first home project handled by Gaudí was the pet project of a Catalan nobleman and Gaudí’s longtime supporter and friend, Eusebi Guell.
British residential parks inspired the idea.
The park is named after Gaudí’s patron and source of inspiration.
4. One of the Houses was Home to Antoni Gaudí
Gaudí moved into the park in 1906, at Güell’s recommendation, and lived in one of the two completed showhouses.
Surprisingly, he had not planned the mansion—Francesc Berenguer designed it.
Gaudí stayed in the Park Güell residence with his family and elderly father until he died in 1926. The Gaudí House Museum is now available to the general public.
It houses furniture and other items he designed and utilised throughout his life.
5. The Hypostyle Room: Built for a Different Function
The Hypostyle Room, one of Park Guell’s most recognisable features, was initially intended as a marketplace for the estate’s tenants.
The room, which features 86 twisting columns, was inspired by Roman temples.
A tube inside collects rainwater that filters from the square and transports it to an underground tank.
The dragon’s mouth on the stairwell serves as an overflow.
6. Austria Gardens to be a Housing Development
Designated initially for housing plots, the zone is currently known as Austria Garden.
However, once Park Guell was available to the public, the zone was converted into a municipal plant nursery.
The Austrian government gave trees to the park in 1977, hence the zone’s name.
From here, visitors can have fantastic views over the park and see the two residences erected on this site.
7. The Iron Gates of Casa Vicens
The palm-leaf-shaped iron gates surrounding the property were not in Gaudí’s original design.
The officials brought it explicitly from Casa Vicens to replace the wooden gates after Gaudí’s death.
8. The Trencadís Technique was Developed Here
The colourful trencadis salamander is the most photographed attraction in the entire park. The construction guards the monumental zone’s stairs.
This is where Gaudí first tried out the trencadis mosaic method and became famous.
Trenchadis means ‘chopped’ in Catalan, which entails cutting many ceramics into tiny pieces and bonding them back together.
9. The Majority of it is Free to visit
Millions of people visit the park annually, although 95% are free.
The monumental zone contains the entryway (with the famed lizard), the elegantly curved seat, and the market hall, the sole portion that isn’t free.
If you want to enter this zone, ensure you get a Park Guell ticket in advance because only 400 people are permitted every half hour.
FAQs
1. What is Park Guell?
Park Guell is a privatized park system composed of gardens and architectural elements located on Carmel Hill, in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
2. Is it true that Park Guell’s design was inspired by nature?
Antoni Gaudi drew inspiration from natural forms, shapes, and structures in his park design.
He incorporated elements from the natural world, such as flora, fauna, and natural geometry, into his architectural creations within the park.
Gaudi also integrated the laws of mathematics, geometry, and other principles of nature into his work.
3. How old is Park Guell?
With a history spanning almost a century (100 years), Park Guell was first established as a municipal park in 1926.
4. Who built Park Guell?
It was designed by Antoni Gaudi, a renowned architect and the face of Catalan modernism, between 1900 and 1914 and officially opened as a public park in 1926.
5. What is the most interesting fact about Park Guell?
The Park Guell Hypostyle Room was originally designed as a marketplace for the estate’s residents.
Roman temples inspire it and feature 86 winding columns.
The room’s ceiling is designed using tile-shard mosaics, which were the handiwork of Gaudi’s assistant, Josep M. Jujol.
Featured Image : Jeison Higuita on Unsplash
