Pod Insights Short History Of... Gaudi (Bonus Episode) About this episode In a long life, spanning the late 19th and early 20th century, Antoni Gaudi created some of history’s best-loved architecture. From his early lamppost designs, through to his great unfinished masterpiece, his unmistakable works are world renowned, inimitable, and iconic to this day.
But how did a man who began life as a sickly child become one of history’s best loved architects? What drove him to reject marriage and dedicate his life to serving God through art? And why does his most famous building remain unfinished?
This is a Short History Of... Antoni Gaudi.
A Noiser Production, written by Angus Gavan McHarg.
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1:40 Speaker 00 It's mid-morning on the 11th of September, 1924. Church bells ring out across the Spanish city of Barcelona. Horse-drawn carriages pass clunking trams, and vendors on foot or bicycles shout over the bustling cafes of this medieval metropolis, speaking towards modernity. Emerging from a narrow lane, two policemen head over to the church of Saint Justice and Pasta. Its Gothic belfry looms over the city's red roofs, casting a shadow on the busy plaza below.
2:18 Speaker 00 Today is an important day for Barcelona. Churches all over the city are holding mass to commemorate Catalan martyrs, heroes who died for Catalonia, an autonomous region of Spain encompassing Barcelona.
2:33 Speaker 00 But General Rivera's dictatorship sees Catalan culture as a threat to a unified Spanish identity and has placed strict limitations on its language. Plenty of citizens are angry about the crackdown, so these two officers have been tasked with seeking out and shutting down any political instigators.
2:56 Speaker 00 Now, one of the policemen, squinting into the rising sun, spots a disheveled-looking man moving towards the church. Street beggars, he knows too well, can often be disruptive. He nudges his partner, and together, they march over to block the old man's path.
3:15 Speaker 00 Greeting him in Spanish, the older policeman asks for the stranger's identity and profession.
3:22 Speaker 00 The man, hunched inside an ill-fitting suit with a large unkempt beard, looks up and says nothing. Irritated, the policeman repeats his request, while the old man glares at him with piercing blue eyes.
3:37 Speaker 00 When the old man eventually responds, he does so in Catalan.
3:42 Speaker 00 His name, he tells them, is Anthony Gaudí. He's seventy-one years old, and he is an architect. "And," he adds, "while his profession requires him to pay his taxes, it does not obligate him to abandon his language."
3:59 Speaker 00 Unsure what to make of this insubordination, the officer asks him to respond again in Spanish.
4:06 Speaker 00 But the old man just lifts his chin and refuses. Incensed, the policeman grabs his arms and place him under arrest. And even as they frogmarch him away from the church in front of the shocked crowd in the plaza, Gaudí remains silent, holding his head high in quiet defiance.
4:34 Speaker 00 In a long life, spanning the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Anthony Gaudí created some of history's best-loved architecture. Deeply proud of his Catalan heritage, his roots... influenced a vast catalog of work that has come to define the city he loved.
4:51 Speaker 00 From his early lamp post designs through to his great unfinished masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia church, his unmistakable works are world renowned, inimitable, iconic.
5:04 Speaker 00 Today, his unique structures, inspired by natural forms, attract millions of visitors to the streets of Barcelona.
5:16 Speaker 00 But how did this man, who began life as a sickly child from a working class family of artisans, become one of history's best loved architects? What drove him to reject marriage and dedicate his life to serving God through art? And why is his most famous building still unfinished today? I am John Hopkins. From the Noiser Network, this is A Short History of Antoni Gaudí.
5:51 Speaker 00 The story begins on the 25th of June, 1852, when Antoni Gaudí is born in Reus, a city in southern Catalonia, Spain. He is a sickly child, and early lung infections and arthritis often force him to miss school. Despite having older siblings, he spends much of his time alone.
6:14 Speaker 00 He takes solace in nature and loves the rivers, mountains, and ancient monasteries of rural Catalonia. His mother fills his sick days with tales of Catholic saints, helping to instill a deeply held faith that will endure for life.
6:35 Speaker 00 As Antoni grows stronger, he attends school and begins to show an interest in craftwork and geometry. Noticing his talent, his father, a copper smith, often takes him to the workshop and begins his instruction in the family trade.
6:53 Speaker 00 Fascinated by his father's skills, Antoni watches as he heats, hammers, and molds copper sheets into elegant shapes and vessels.
7:03 Speaker 00 In the workshop, he not only learns technical skills, but how to feel and imagine space in three dimensions.
7:13 Speaker 00 "Con los sueños de respirar nueva vida en la herencia de Cataluña, en 1868, se aleja de su casa para participar en la Escuela Superior de Arquitectura de Barcelona. Gaudí primero se aloja con su hermano mayor, Francisco, que estudia medicina.
7:29 Speaker 00 La ciudad de Barcelona, una metrópolis industrializada rica en la historia medieval, se convierte en el cuadro perfecto para la imaginación de Gaudí. Pero todavía se dedica a recorrer el campo.
7:43 Speaker 00 En una de esas tripas, atraviesa las ruinas de un monasterio. La antigua local, Poblet, lo mueve tanto que se promete reconstruirla.
7:54 Speaker 00 Se prepara planes para su restauración, su primer esfuerzo arquitectónico.
8:00 Speaker 00 Inevitablemente, una falta de experiencia, además del hecho de que aún tiene apenas 18 años, el proyecto se detiene. Pero el entusiasmo por la arquitectura medieval se endurece.
8:15 Speaker 00 Paradoquamente, sin embargo, su obsesión por el entorno construido no significa que su entrenamiento arquitectónico sea un paso fácil. Sin querer copiar directamente los estilos de su profesor, en su lugar, pasa horas estudiando imágenes de edificios antiguos de todo el mundo. Está fascinado con todo ello, desde los arcos islámicos hasta los monumentos egipcios, hasta las casas de basura morócas. Pero con poco dinero y pocas conexiones familiares, también necesita apoyarse.
8:46 Speaker 00 Encontrará empleo en las oficinas de trabajo de la ciudad. Y aunque esto, en última instancia, afecta a su progreso académico, le da la oportunidad de desarrollar sus habilidades de masonía, que le mantendrán en buen estado para su trabajo posterior.
8:59 Speaker 00 Las conferencias y exámenes a menudo llevan a la espalda de sus persuades independientes. Pero cuando lo hace, produce un trabajo asombroso.
9:10 Speaker 00 Para un proyecto, crea una puerta de cementerio extraordinaria, adornando el arco de hierro grande rotado con intriga de imagen bíblica. Los primeros dibujos incluyen una cortesía de funeral completa, con cámaras de lágrimas dibujadas individualmente, llorando junto a su puerta, todos bajo un cielo brotante.
9:30 Speaker 00 Aunque es un triunfo, su educación ahora enfrenta más desorden, con la desaparición de la guerra civil en España.
9:42 Speaker 00 Durante la terza guerra carlista, una guerra dinastica profundamente profundamente debatida entre ideólogos tradicionales y modernistas, Gaudí se inscribió en las reservas de infantería. El joven arquitecto se obliga a perder un año de estudios, pero el conflicto se resuelve en 1876, permitiendo a Gaudí volver a sus persuadir académicos y evitar la implementación de la línea frontal. Pero luego surge la tragedia.
10:10 Speaker 00 El hermano de Gaudí, Francisco, muere de repente, apenas de 25 años, y se sigue a su madre triste.
10:20 Speaker 00 Una depresión desciende sobre el joven arquitecto, y por primera vez en su vida, comienza un diario.
10:27 Speaker 00 En una entrada, él escribe simplemente: “Debemos trabajar duro para superar las dificultades, y de alguna manera o de otra, los supera. Se reemerga para dibujar los proyectos futuros y se dedica plenamente al mundo de la arquitectura”.
10:49 Speaker 00 Después de una década tumultuosa, Gaudí finalmente se gradúa en 1878. Al hacerlo, el director de la escuela le dice: “Estamos aquí hoy, ya sea en la presencia de un genio o de un loco”.
11:05 Speaker 00 Después de su graduación, Gaudí toma varios trabajos de artesanía en Barcelona. A medida que su red de contactos se expande, comienzan a venir las comisiones de arquitectura a su alcance y sus diseños se vuelven más extravagantes y ornantes. Una de sus primeras comisiones es un conjunto de lampantes en la Plaza Real, la cuadrilla royal de la cuarta parte gothic de Barcelona.
11:28 Speaker 00 Las luces de calle comparten cada una una columna de hierro rojo y negro que apoyan una candelabra. En sus coronas está el helmeto del dios Mercurio, un símbolo de la prosperidad comercial de Barcelona. Después, Gaudí es comisionado a diseñar casas de trabajadores y salas de almacenamiento en Mataró, una ciudad a la costa de Barcelona. Y es cuando es duro aquí que se enamora.
11:58 Speaker 00 Pepeta Moreo, a beautiful and free-spirited teacher at the local school, so entrances the inexperienced Gaudí, but he eventually asks her to marry him. But he is too late. She is already engaged to another man. Utterly embarrassed, Gaudí now resigns himself to religious celibacy and a deep fatalism towards romantic love.
12:29 Speaker 00 He continues with other low-key projects until one fateful day, he comes to the attention of one of Spain's wealthiest men.
12:39 Speaker 00 In the late 19th century, trade exhibitions are popular across Europe. At the Paris World Exposition in 1878, the industrialist Eusebi Guel admires a 12-foot golden display case, showing a range of luxury gloves made in Barcelona. But he hardly notices the gloves. Instead, Guel is in awe of the intricate floral designs etched into the case itself, crafted by the little-known Antoni Gaudí. As a fellow Catalan, Guel feels compelled to seek out this young architect. It's a decision that will change Gaudí's life and the landscape of Barcelona forever.
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16:11 Speaker 00 In the summer of 1880, Guel takes the young Gaudi under his wing.
16:17 Speaker 00 Barcelona es ahora un hub comercial floreciente y juntos Guel y Gaudí están determinados a imponer una visión moderna de la identidad catalana en la ciudad.
16:28 Speaker 00 Reinvigorado y con un poco de dinero en su bolsillo, Gaudí se mete en la alta sociedad de Cataluña, mezclándose con artistas, industrialistas, políticos y otros arquitectos.
16:42 Speaker 00 Fuera de estos círculos crece el movimiento modernista. vinculado al art nouveau, un estilo que se centra en formas asimétricas naturales, los modernistas pretenden descubrir la cultura catalana.
16:56 Speaker 00 La ambición de Gaudí es combinar influencias discordantes, europeas y árabes, naturales y geométricas, para crear una toma distinta sobre los estilos visuales catalanes y crear edificios que son casi organismos vivos, respirantes. En los años 1880, Gaudí se convierte en el arquitecto principal de Guel. Empezando con proyectos de pequeña escala como los bloques estables y las fuentes, finalmente gradúa en diseñar palacios de ciudad y iglesias privadas. Con cada nueva comisión, su ingeniozidad crece.
17:32 Speaker 00 La mayoría de los arquitectos de la era se adhieren a los diseños neoclásicos, produciendo grandes pero tradicionales formas, compuestos de bases probadas y probadas, de pilares verticales, paredes planas, formas reales y repetidas angulares. Gaudí, aunque subvertida en lo que pueda, donde pueda, donde sus contemporáneos ven ángulos rectos, trae curvas. Donde la convención exige simetría, opta por irregularidad. Adorando sus estructuras con flora, fauna y el tipo de bulbos, tendrilas y concavidades encontradas más a menudo en el bosque o el océano que en la ciudad, sus diseños sonren con vitalidad.
18:18 Speaker 00 É particulièrement fonde de mosaïques de tille brillantes conçues de céramiques recyclés, avec lesquels il apporte à son bâtiment de vie, à l'intérieur et à l'extérieur. Son style artistique distinctif va devenir connu sous le nom de "Chancadis". Puis, à 31 ans, Gaudí est offert un projet qui lui occupera le reste de sa vie.
18:42 Speaker 00 En 1883, Gaudí est approché par José Bocabea, un vendeur d'articles excentrique avec un projet appétissant. Il construit une nouvelle église à la part du nord central de Barcelone, mais son architecte original vient de se resigner. Comme est le dit la légende, Bocabea rêvait de trouver un jeune architecte avec des yeux bleus piercing, et, lors de la rencontre de Gaudí, il croit qu'il est le homme destiné à concevoir l'église. La réalité peut être plus prosaïque. Comme un jeune et relativement inconnu architecte, Gaudí est probablement choisi parce qu'il est moins cher que ses collègues plus expérimentés.
19:24 Speaker 00 Le design initial était pour une église plus traditionnelle, néogothique, typique de l'ère, reconnaissable par ses fleurs décoratives inspirées par la medievalité. Mais avec Gaudí sur le bord, toute la forme de l'édifice est changée.
19:39 Speaker 00 Bientôt, cinquante maïsins et travailleurs, aidés par huit chevaux et camions, commencent le travail sur l'église. La "família sagrada", ou "famille sacrée". La immense échelle et l'ambition du projet, ainsi que son design évoluant et non conventionnel, établit rapidement Gaudí comme un visionnaire et un architecte prometteur. Mais en progressant le travail, il développe une certaine réputation.
20:11 Speaker 00 Situado sobre su carro, parado en la calle, grita órdenes complejas a los constructores mientras se van deshaciendo. Su desesperado deseo de perfección a menudo lo ve rompiendo las paredes, ordenando la destrucción de entornos enteros y haciendo que sus trabajadores vuelvan a trabajar. Es un proyecto monumental a largo plazo, y Gaudí debe juntar muchos otros proyectos a lo largo del camino.
20:37 Speaker 00 En 1886, comienza a trabajar en una mansión de la ciudad para su patrono Guel y su familia. Se planea como un palacio de estilo veneciano, ubicado en el sur de Las Ramblas, la calle más famosa de Barcelona. Apenas en contra de los críticos que critican los planes para algo tan grande en un área tan ruidosa con crimen y pobreza, el Gaudí estupendo y ambicioso maximiza la extravagancia del edificio.
21:05 Speaker 00 En la entrada, una gigante y roja escopeta catalana adornan las puertas. Dentro, columnas de marmolismo individualmente decoradas crean una tapa de arquitectura europea y islámica. Las mosaicas de Gaudí rodean las ventanas en todos los siete pisos, y veinte camas, una torre encima de los edificios vecinos.
21:29 Speaker 00 Guel está emocionado, pero su contador desprecia la costumbre de Gaudí. “Lleno los bolsillos de Don Guel”, le dicen, y Gaudí los vacía.
21:41 Speaker 00 Y no está exagerando. El palacio solo cuesta unos 1,7 millones de pesetas, aproximadamente 1500 veces el costo de una casa típica en ese momento.
21:57 Speaker 00 Como resultado, aunque la práctica de arquitectura de Gaudí sigue prosperando, muchos de los artistas bohemianos de Barcelona denuncian su extravagancia desperdiciada. Pero no le importa mucho a Gaudí, que prefiere asistir a la iglesia sobre socializarse con sus críticos godosos. Y con el final del siglo acercándose, Guel está a punto de emprender su proyecto más fantástico aún.
22:26 Speaker 00 By the late 19th century, Spain's empire is crumbling. The defeat in the Spanish-American War of 1898 forces the once dominant nation to relinquish control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. The sudden collapse of Spain's colonial markets forces textile tycoon Guel to seek alternative sources of income.
22:50 Speaker 00 So he starts looking into property development. In 1899, he purchases farmland in the Gracia district of northern Barcelona and commissions Gaudí to build Parc Guel, a luxury housing complex inspired by folklore, fairy tales, and the Catalan countryside.
23:11 Speaker 00 Building work begins in 1900. For the next 14 years, and with the help of a team of builders and artisans, Gaudí's Wonderland emerges. The main entrance is flanked by two fairy tale-style houses, known colloquially as the Hansel and Gretel Houses because of their almost edible-looking façades. Beyond the elaborate wrought iron gates rises an expansive stairway, home to a huge mosaic-covered salamander dribbling water into a pool. At the top of the steps is the so-called "hypo-style room", an open space originally intended as the estates' covered marketplace.
23:55 Speaker 00 Its undulating ceiling is supported by 86 doric columns. But, Gaudí being Gaudí, many of them are constructed at an angle to evoke a sense of movement and disorientation. Moving up the hill, residents pass mushroom-shaped pavilions, each made from recycled materials and surrounded by Mediterranean scrub.
24:19 Speaker 00 Higher still, hidden pathways and giant boulders lead to the park's summit, where the city stretches out below into a breathtaking panorama.
24:35 Speaker 00 But though undeniably unique, the park isn't as success as a housing development. Of the 60 planned homes, only two are completed and With Gaudí himself taking up residence in one. So the project shifts from being an upper-class enclave to a city park. For a small entry fee, Gaudí's Wonderland can be enjoyed by everyone in Barcelona.
25:02 Speaker 00 His elderly father joins him in his new residence, as does Rosa, his adult niece. But she is beginning to struggle with alcoholism. And as Gaudí himself is working too hard to offer much help, it's up to his father to help manage her drinking and her failing health.
25:21 Speaker 00 She becomes chronically ill, and, to Gaudí's regret, never fully recovers. In 1906, Gaudí's father dies, leaving just the architect and his sickly niece in their Park Guel mansion.
25:41 Speaker 00 Though times are troubled in Gaudí's park, an even greater catastrophe looms outside. Amid a deepening economic depression triggered by the loss of Spain's colonies, workers across the city are growing tired of the extravagant excesses of the rich as their own wages fall.
26:00 Speaker 00 Gaudí's luxurious churches and palaces are no longer revered but derided. And with tension already simmering in the streets, in July 1909, thousands of workers are conscripted to defend Spain's colonial territories in Morocco, leaving their families without a breadwinner. It's the final straw.
26:23 Speaker 00 Strikes and riots erupt throughout Barcelona. And as the violence intensifies, Gaudí's masterpieces stand on the brink of destruction.
26:40 Speaker 00 It's a humid July morning in central Barcelona, 1909. The air is heavy with lingering smoke from many days of rioting. The streets littered with broken glass and overturned trams.
26:56 Speaker 00 Jose Bello, Gaudí's building constructor, stands guard outside the Casamilia, Barcelona's newest apartment building. Pacing in front of the majestic limestone construction that flows upwards like a white beehive, he scans the streets for trouble, while his boss checks for damage inside.
27:18 Speaker 00 Eventually, fifty-seven-year-old Antonia Gaudí emerges, locking the curved iron doors behind him.
27:28 Speaker 00 Scratching his whitening beard, he mutters that his inspection is complete. The building is unharmed.
27:37 Speaker 00 But Jose frowns, picking up the sound of chanting in the distance coming closer.
27:43 Speaker 00 He tells his employer it's time to leave, but Gaudí is determined to check his most prized work, and so they head off instead towards the Sagrada Familia church.
28:01 Speaker 00 After passing scorched wagon wheels and boarded-up cafes, they round the corner onto Aragon Street. Suddenly, there's the sound of gunfire. Distant, but enough to make the men stop in their tracks. Instead of heading for safety though, Gaudí increases his pace towards his beloved building. Jose has little choice but to follow him.
28:28 Speaker 00 When they arrive, they find the church undamaged. Scaffolding still clings to its unfinished spires, and wooden beams across the entrance shield the arches from the chaos outside.
28:42 Speaker 00 Jose now implores his employer to retreat to safety. The veteran architect finally relents, and they head back to Parc Guell.
28:55 Speaker 00 But as they weave their way through the streets, their eyes begin to sting from smoke, and the sound of protest grows louder. They hurry to the park, close the gates, then climb to its highest point. And what they see when they turn to survey the city below takes their breath away.
29:15 Speaker 00 Ancient churches burn across the city. To the west, waves of protesters flow through the streets, and mounted police charge at barricading rioters. Catalonia's historic capital has descended into total anarchy.
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31:03 Speaker 02 You know, it's the time of the year when I'm always on the lookout for fresh fall options for my wardrobe. And I think I just found my new favorite sweater at Quince. It's the Cotton Fisherman Crew. It's relaxed, it's cozy, but yet still polished. It's one of those versatile pieces you can wear everywhere, to the office, out running errands, or a night out with friends. And as we head into the holiday season, this is definitely one I'll be adding to others on my list. See, Quince focuses on high-quality staples made with premium materials like 100% Mongolian cashmere, 14 karat gold, and Italian leather. All timeless, versatile pieces that feel special to unwrap and become everyday favorites long after the holidays. Their cashmere sweaters start at just $60, and the lineup doesn't stop there.
31:44 Speaker 02 They have premium down jackets, wool outerwear, and cashmere accessories. Everything you and your loved ones need to stay warm and look put together all season long. And when it comes to gifting, Quince has a lot more than clothing. Think fine jewelry, leather bags, hotel-quality bedding, chef-grade cookware, and five-star luggage. Basically, plenty of ways to find something special for everyone on your list. So give the gift of quality this holiday season. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to quince.com and get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. It's now available in Canada and the UK, too. And when Quince asks where you heard about them, let them know what short history of. It's the best way to support the show.
32:25 Speaker 00 What becomes known as "The Tragic Week" marks a downward spiral for Gaudi's fortunes. Though his new building, the meandering Casamiglia, escapes damage during the unrest, the anti-church sentiments behind the riots lead investors to abandon its crown jewel, a rooftop sculpture of the Virgin Mary flanked by archangels.
32:50 Speaker 00 Furious, Gaudi initiates what will become a prolonged court case against the wealthy Milia family. His payment is delayed for seven years, and the aging architect is left utterly exhausted.
33:05 Speaker 00 Disillusioned, Gaudí vows the Casa Milia will be his last secular building.
33:13 Speaker 00 Ever his loyal patron, Guel continues providing steady work, like the cript of Colonia Guel, a church in a workers' village which generates a modest income. By now, though, Gaudí's style has begun to fall out of fashion.
33:31 Speaker 00 His detractors complain that the man once called "the Dante of Architecture" has littered Barcelona with cartoonish vulgarities.
33:41 Speaker 00 Then, in 1911, he is struck down by brucellosis, or Malta fever, contracted by drinking unpasteurized milk, and leaves Barcelona to recover in the mountains. A little after his return, his niece, Rosa, dies of alcohol-related illness, leaving him utterly heartbroken.
34:03 Speaker 00 At sixty years old, Gaudí no longer has a single living relative. And a few years later, his friend and reliable patron, Eusebi Guel, also falls ill and dies.
34:18 Speaker 00 Most of Gaudí's work now grinds to a halt. But one project remains incomplete.
34:27 Speaker 00 Though Gaudí and his team have been doggedly working on the colossal Sagrada Familia for years, every time he revisits the project, his additions cause further delays. Now, though, he is free from all distractions and decides to devote himself entirely to the church he calls "The Cathedral for the Poor".
34:57 Speaker 00 As he works, Gaudí becomes a recluse, a creature of habit. His daily schedule of morning mass, construction of the Sagrada Familia, and evening confession is rarely interrupted. But age and declining health take its toll.
35:16 Speaker 00 In clothes that now hang loosely from hollow shoulders, and using a walking stick to support himself, the disheveled architect is often mistaken for a street beggar. This doesn't matter to Gaudí. He has one job left: the Sagrada Familia Church, and one almighty patron: God Himself.
35:43 Speaker 00 The problem is, unlike Eusebi Guell, God doesn't have any money. So as well as being the project's chief architect, Gaudí must also become its fundraiser. While he cajoles and begs anyone from bishops to local shopkeepers for donations, slowly but surely, the church stretches higher above the city.
36:07 Speaker 00 Reinforced with scaffold, four hexagonal towers twist upwards like giant honeycombs, while lower down, angels, shepherds, animals, flowers, and fruit adorn the facade.
36:22 Speaker 00 Despite the constant work, the spires and much of the nave and vaults seem unfinishable. And Gaudí's labor-intensive methods for the decorative elements are often ambitious and downright bizarre.
36:41 Speaker 00 Chasing sculptures that are perfect copies of nature, he's not above knocking out chickens and turkeys with chloroform, casting them in plaster, then freeing them before they wake up. In order to faultlessly recreate human anatomy in his carvings, he's given special permission to observe autopsies at a local hospital. But even this isn't enough. For the sculptures of children, his team discreetly removes stillborn babies from the hospital and brings them to his workshop. There, Gaudí uses them for plaster casts to be used in the cathedral's representation of the biblical slaughter of the innocents. A chilling sight that survives to this day.
37:29 Speaker 00 Working day and night, Gaudí eventually leaves his Parc Guell home altogether, moving into the Sagrada Familia workshop to fully immerse himself in his final project. But as the 20th century progresses, his country is changing. Catalan nationalists and the Spanish government are increasingly at loggerheads. In 1923, General Primo de Rivera overthrows the central Spanish government. He then suspends the constitution and imposes strict laws that see public use of the Catalan language and nationalist symbols immediately banned.
38:12 Speaker 00 Some of Gaudí’s lamp posts, one of his earliest projects, are removed by newly appointed officials. Outraged by the growing oppression of his language and culture, he is arrested and briefly held by police in 1924 for refusing to speak Spanish to two policemen. Even when King Alfonso XIII visits the Sagrada Familia church, Gaudí addresses him solely in Catalan. But he is by now too stubborn and too old to yield to anyone, even the king. One visiting official allegedly asks Gaudí if he is concerned about the church’s slow
38:57 Speaker 00 progress. Looking to the heavens, he reportedly replies: “My client is not in a hurry.” But while God may be in no rush, time is running out for the great Catalan architect. It’s the 7th of June, 1926. Inside the Sagrada Familia church, 73-year-old Antoni Gaudí admires the figures of the Nativity facade. Though the stained glass windows haven’t even been When started, he turns to face the empty space where they'll be,
39:40 Speaker 00 imagining the vivid light show streaming in, moving up the complex forests of pillars as the sun sets.
39:48 Speaker 00 He sighs, then turns to his workers. "Today's tasks are complete," he tells them. "It's time to go home."
39:59 Speaker 00 As his team start to pack up for the night, the elderly architect heads outside, unaware that this is the last time he will ever see his greatest masterpiece.
40:12 Speaker 00 A little way to the south, on Corriere de Baillen, the evening rush hour is underway. The street is busy with commuters on foot, as well as cars and clunking trams, and a young waitress emerges from a café on the corner to wipe an outdoor table.
40:29 Speaker 00 Glancing up to see a guitarist busking on the other side of the street, she notices an old man, possibly a beggar, shuffling straight towards the intersection.
40:41 Speaker 00 Stick in hand, he ignores the wagons and honking trams, as if they should wait for him.
40:49 Speaker 00 She wonders if maybe she recognizes him, but then suddenly, he disappears behind the green number thirty tram. It screeches to an inelegant halt, and the driver, visibly startled, jumps out of his cab.
41:04 Speaker 00 Concerned, the waitress puts down her cloth and rushes up the street to see what's happened.
41:11 Speaker 00 At the junction, she sees the old man lying next to the tracks. He's on his back, clasping his side, blood seeping from his ear.
41:23 Speaker 00 A few concerned pedestrians try to help and manage to flag down a car, but the driver takes one look and drives away, certain that the man is just another street beggar.
41:36 Speaker 00 It's not until the accident is later reported in the papers that he realizes how wrong he was.
41:48 Speaker 00 Unrecognized, Antoni Gaudí lies in the road for a long time. Bystanders hail four different taxis to take him to hospital, but each driver refuses, not wanting a beggar inside their car. Finally, with the help of the police, his old adversaries, a taxi is ordered to drive the wounded architect to the Santa Cruz Hospital, where he is recognized by a priest.
42:16 Speaker 00 Gaudí is diagnosed with fractured ribs and cerebral contusions. And though he clings to life for two more days, on the 10th of June 1926, he passes away.
42:29 Speaker 00 Two days later, the man who changed the face of Barcelona makes the journey back to his beloved church, where he will be laid to rest in the crypt.
42:40 Speaker 00 In a horse-drawn carriage, he travels slowly along Las Ramblas.
42:45 Speaker 00 Tens of thousands line the streets to witness the funeral of a true Catalan legend.
42:58 Speaker 00 He leaves behind an extraordinary body of work, much of it on full public display for anyone to enjoy. From extravagant churches to elaborate street furniture, his structures are alive, explosive, vibrant, and most importantly, for the people.
43:17 Speaker 00 Renowned as stubborn and cantankerous, he was also steadfast in his moral convictions. His peculiar mix of Christian humility and Catalan pride drove him to create some of the world's most famous buildings. And yet, until recently, his work has often been overlooked. The dictatorship of Francisco Franco from the late 1930s brings a deeper repression of Catalan culture.
43:44 Speaker 00 But towards the end, the Franco's rule, as academics, architects, and tourists flood into Spain. Spain, Gaudí's buildings begin to gain a global reputation.
43:55 Speaker 00 Today, his unique, flamboyant architecture draws millions of visitors to the streets of Barcelona. However, Gaudí's most famous building, the Sagrada Familia Church, is still under construction.
44:10 Speaker 00 Though Pablo Picasso famously derided the building, his claim that "a finished work is a dead work" might have resonated with Gaudí. After all, with the plans shifting so often and so drastically during his lifetime, the Sagrada Familia resisted completion for decades and became an endless architectural experiment.
44:33 Speaker 00 When it finally meets its projected deadline in 2026, exactly 100 years after Gaudí's death, we can only wonder whether its creator would approve. And more importantly, what his famously patient client might make of it.
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