Gaudi or gaudy - which is it?

Gaudi or gaudy - which is it? What I love about walking into an Antoni Gaudi structure for the first time is the unexpected. At least that was the case for a Gaudi newbie like me whose introduction of the architect came from watching Woody Allen’s “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”

While his creations seem to be inspired by some futuristic sci-fi fantasyland, they actually took shape around the turn of the 20th century.

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Gaudi truly was a man ahead of his time - and some might say out of his mind on first glance alone. The most surprising characteristic of his work is its practicality. What seems like an indulgence of every artistic whim turns out to be the discovery of functionality in a sea of creative ideas.

In Barcelona, Spain, we first got to know Gaudi’s work at Casa Mila, also known as La Pedrera, which means the quarry.

A few examples of the Catalan architect’s brilliance become evident as you circle the apartment complex’s quarters.

Each dwelling is built around a courtyard that allows natural light to fill each room. There also are no load-bearing walls within the apartment, allowing the tenant the freedom to create spaces to fit their lifestyle. Even the doorknobs are designed to comfortably fit your hand.

Love it or hate it, you’re not going to leave a Gaudi landmark without making some kind of assessment. For me, gaudy it’s not.