lunes, 16 de mayo de 2011

BARCELONA - GAUDÍ: COLÒNIA GUELL

After the two previous posts about La Casa Milà (or La Pedrera), I think that it could be interesting to speak about La Colònia Güell, which I visited some time ago.

La Colònia Güell is one of the greatest legacies in modernist architecture and urban design in Spain today. Built at the end of the 19th century, it comprises a factory area, a residential area and the Gaudí Church Crypt, one of the most representative works of Antoni Gaudí. Its buildings are outstanding for their spaciousness, formal beauty and simple shapes and volumes.


The Colònia Güell was founded in 1890 by Eusebi Güell, following the model of the industrial estates common of that time and was one of the largest industrial complexes in Catalonia, where the people worked, lived and learned.

Industrial estates were organized as social centres where the workers and their families lived around the factory. At the factory raw cotton was processed into high quality corduroy and velvet.



Church's Crypt


The crypt of the church of this industrial estate was a "lab" for Gaudí, as many of the complex architectural solutions the brilliant architect would latter apply in the Sagrada Familia were tested here, in this textile neighborhood.



Crypt of La Colonia Güell designed by Antoni GaudíThe current church of La Colònia Güell is actually the crypt of the modernist original design, but the lack of funds stopped its construction. Even though it was never finished, the Crypt, conceived by Gaudí, is considered one of the most important and surprising works in modern architecture


Crypt of La Colonia Güell designed by Antoni GaudíAltar of the current church of La Colònia Güell


Crypt of La Colonia Güell designed by Antoni GaudíBell-tower of the modernist church of La Colònia Güell


Crypt of La Colonia Güell designed by Antoni GaudíStained glass window of the church of La Colònia Güell


Crypt of La Colonia Güell designed by Antoni GaudíOne of the stained glass window, designed by Gaudí, of the modernist church of La Colònia Güell seen from within




Colònia Güell



Ca l'Ordal is a traditional Catalan Masia inside La Colonia GüellCa l'Ordal is a set of three apartments which evokes a traditional Catalan Masia but built in modernist style, like the other buildings of La Colònia Güell


Ca l'Espinal in La Colonia GüellCa l'Espinal was the residence of a director of the factory of La Colònia Güell


Library of Joaquim Folguera in La Colònia GüellThe building of Joaquim Folguera library was built between 1915-1917. At first it was a girls school, then a parochial center and, currently is a library


Sculpture of Antoni Gaudí in La Colònia GüellIn the middle of Joan Güell Square there is a sculpture of Antoni Gaudí, the brilliant modernist architect


Environment around La Colònia Güell in BarcelonaThe Colònia Güell is surrounded by wheat-fields and pine-trees. The estate is integrated with the rural environment that gives character to the village


As I tried to explain in this post, the Colonia Güell is set in a prime industrial location close to Barcelona, estructured round and enclosing a superb environment with easy acces from the city center, airport and city public transport.



Clicking on the next links you will find more pictures of the most important buildings designed by Antoni Gaudí:



Besides, other modernist buildings you can visit in Barcelona are:


Other interesting one day visits you can enjoy near Barcelona are:





Besides I would like to give you some useful information in case you want to visit La Colònia Güell:

- Address: Claudi Güell, 6 (08690 Santa Coloma de Cervelló)
- How to get there:
  • By car: By road B-2002 between Sant Boi de Llobregat and Santa Coloma de Cervelló. for detailed indication consult the following location map of La Colonia Güell.
  • By train: Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) from Plaza España (Barcelona). Lines S33, S8 y S4. Station: Colònia Güell.
- Opening times
  • Winter season: 1st of November until the 1st of June from 10.00 - 15.00h
  • Summer season: 1st of June until the 31st of October from 10.00h - 14.00h and from 15.00h - 19.00h.
  • Weekends and holiday all the year from 10.00 - 15.00h.
- Telephone: 93 630 58 07
- Email: info@coloniaguell.net
- Website: www.coloniaguell.net

- Barcelona Guide Bureau (http://bgb.es) offers guided tours with transfer from Barcelona.

Finally, clicking on the next link you will find links to other beautiful places in Barcelona and Catalonia, among them, more nice modernist buildings in Barcelona.

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