Antoni Gaudi architect sainthood news, Barcelona architecture, Spain design images, Houses pictures
Antoni Gaudi Architect
The Vatican / Catholic Church News: Spanish architecture designer – organic Catalan buildings photos
post updated 15 April 2025
Vatican Sainthood Proposal for Architect Antoni Gaudí
The Vatican has put Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí on the path to sainthood in recognition of his “heroic virtues”.
Gaudí – who has been dubbed by some as “God’s architect” – is the designer of one of Spain’s most famous religious sites and tourist attractions, the unfinished Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, reports the BBC today.
Sagrada Familia building interior:
photo © Chang Liu
On Monday, the Vatican issued a statement which said Pope Francis had authorised a decree declaring the Catalonia-born architect “venerable”.
That is an early step on the road to a candidate for sainthood being formally canonised by the Catholic Church.
Gaudí died in 1926 after being hit by a tram while walking to church. The Vatican would likely require proof of a miracle that could be attributed to him post-death in order to proceed with beatification.
Sagrada Familia basilica building – under construction since 1883, still unfinished:
photo © Stephen Welch
The usual formal process for someone to be declared a saint would next involve beatification, one step short of full sainthood.
That is a category reserved for martyrs, those deemed to have lived a life of heroic values and candidates who the Church declares to have a saintly reputation.
Previously on e-architect:
17 October 2024
New Sagrada Familia Building Photos
photo © Chang Liu
Sagrada Familia building
29 Nov 2016
Antoni Gaudi Table
New Gaudi center table – Limited edition
To celebrate Bessa’s 1st anniversary, Bessa created an exclusive limited edition piece inspired by Antoni Gaudi‘s designs. The table is made of 100 kilos of solid brass and is reminiscent of the architectural façade of the Batlló House dominated by flowing organic lines.
Inspired by the colors and geometric shapes of the tiles in Batlló House’s roof, the Gaudi table is covered with 300 triangles. Each one of them was manually foliated with silver and gold leaf and painted artistically. An exclusive work that stands out from conventional furniture pieces.
Antoni Gaudi Architect – Key Building
Arquitectura Catalunya, España
The most famous Antoni Gaudi building in Barcelona
Sagrada Familia – Church of the Holy Family
Date built: 1884
photo © Adrian Welch
Sagrada Familia building
Literally ‘Sacred Family’ this church is the largest of all building by this famous Spanish architect.
This is one of the most fascinating examples of Spanish architecture from the last one hundred years. I’ve visited it on many trips but each visit unveils a new thread, a new detail.
The building tells the story of Christianity, obviously from a Spanish catholic viewpoint, and feels more like an object of reverence than a cathedral which is a place to revere. Maybe once completed (but when?!) the space will become more focused on what surely the architect intended it to be, a cathedral to worship God.
Antoni Gaudi Buildings
Key Antoni Gaudi designs in Barcelona:
1.Casa Batllo
2. Casa Mila
3. Park Guell
Casa Batllo, Passeig de Gracia, Eixample
Date built: 1904-06
Design: Antoni Gaudi Architect
photo © Adrian Welch
Casa Batllo
Casa Mila, Passeig de Gracia, Eixample
Date built: 1905-10
photo © AW
Casa Mila – La Pedrera building
Park Guell / Park Güell, north of the city
Date built: 1900-14
photo © Adrian Welch
Park Güell
A great place to relax, enjoy the countryside and gain great views out over Barcelona. The best Gaudi architecture is at the lower, south end of Park Guell, primarily close to the southern entry. However we suggest if going by Metro getting off at Vallcarca and using escalators to almost reach the top of the Park. This way you can enjoy Park Guell walking down through it and getting more and more Gaudiesque. A fantastic pink house, the home of Antoni Gaudi for around 20 years is in the middle of the lower section.
Antoni Gaudi Buildings in Barcelona
Other Antoni Gaudi buildings in Barcelona, alphabetical:
Calvet House / Casa Calvet, Eixample
Date built: 1898-99
photo © Adrian Welch
Bellesguard House / Casa Bellesguard, Bellesguard 16
Date built: 1900-02
Private house
Guell Estate / Finca Güell, west of the city
Date built: 1884-87
Guell Palace / Palau Güell, Barri Gotic, Ciutat Vella
Date built: 1886-90
Teresian School / Col-legi de les Tersianes, Ganduxer 105, north of the city
Date built: 1889-94
Vicens House / Casa Vicens, north of the city
Date built: 1883-85
Casa Vicens for sale mid-2007 reportedly for approximately €35m
Barcelona Architecture Update
UNESCO News re Historic Buildings in Barcelona:
UNESCO has added four Barcelona buildings by architect Antoni Gaudi to its list of World Heritage sites: the Nativity Façade and crypt of the Sagrada Familia, Casa Batllo, the crypt of Colonia Güell and Casa Vicens. Other Barcelona buildings by this Catalan architect – Parque Güell, Palacio Güell and Casa Mila – have been listed since 1984.
Location: Barcelona, Catalunya, Northeast Spain, southwestern Europe.
Barcelona Architecture Practice Information
Antoni was a Catalonian architect from the late 19th century to early 20th century
Sagrada Familia Barcelona:
photo © AW
Barcelona Architecture
Barcelona Buildings
photo © Adrian Welch
Architecture in Spain
Comments / photos for the Antoni Gaudi Architecture Designs and The Vatican sainthood news from the Catholic Church in April 2025 page welcome.
