Barcelona Weekend Break

Finca Guell

Built between 1884 and 1887, in the context of Gaudi, the Finca Guell is really a lodge that makes up part of a larger estate of which Gaudi also contributed a stable (or pavilion) and a grand entrance.

Gaudi's involvement resulted from his working relationship with the estate's owner, Eusebi Guell, and he was also charged with the design and construction of the estate's wall, an elevated viewing point (called a "mirrador"), a chapel and a water fountain.

The reason for the work resulted from the conjoining of two existing estates that Guell, who was a wealthy businessman and industrialist, had purchased. Gaudi's job was to unify the two though the addition of boundary walls, separate pedestrian and horse drawn carriage gateways and some additional buildings. It proved to be an early and hugely successful cooperation with the man who would become his biggest and most ardent supporter.

On paper Gaudi did not add a lot to the Guell estate, but when you see the impact that his designs have you quickly realise the significance of his involvement.

Most of the walls and buildings are of brickwork, but the masonry is often laid in an open lattice like bond and the most detailed of terracotta mouldings cap the tops of the walls and a small brick tower. Curves and undulations are everywhere and buff coloured fan shaped tiles contrast with the red brick.

With a grey stone footing also adding further colour to the outside of the boundary wall, the entrance to the estate, through an impressive gateway, makes what is now an un-miss able statement of Gaudi's work.

Classic Gaudi chimney pots and a miniature dome "topped" tower equipped with 360 degrees of encircling windows with "eye lids" complete the detailing to the buildings and of course there is some extra colour – this time green highlight to the tower's roof and window sills.