Park Guell

Although Antoni Gaudi’s career flourished at the turn of the 20th century, his work at Park Guell demonstrates that his mind was leaning towards the 21st century. The park features radical biomorphic forms that are concerned with strength of structure and ergonomics of the human body. From plan view to structural elements, we can see this biomorphic form present.

The incline of the roads had to be gradual enough to allow travel by horse and carriage. Gaudi deals with the incredibly steep grade of the site by creating a long, meandering pathway that gently slopes to the top of the site.

Gaudi’s use of the biomorphic form is quite radical for his time. He not only uses it in the site plan, but carries it into the structures in the park as well.

Gaudi was a fantastic engineer. Although many structures in the park appear to be haphazardly built, the use of the biomorphic form actually reinforces the support system of these structures. Undulating and sloping walls provided a more supportive base than their rectilinear counterparts.

  

This skill in engineering allowed Gaudi to build creative and incredibly sturdy structures that appear to be at risk of toppling over any second. He used dowels and cement to solidify these structures.

    

 

These techniques provided Gaudi with the ability to make even structures made out of heavy stone to appear light and delicate.

The use of the biomorphic form also allows him to mimic the nature in the site, like palm trees. The planters along the roads and the undulating walls have elaborate palm tree decorations made from various sized stones and cement. Their top heavy, biomorphic form serves as a support system for the walls while also serving as elaborate decoration.

Finally we come to the great gathering space.

The continuous bench that wraps around the entire space is similar in shape to the plan view of the site. Gaudi was very intrigued by ergonomics, so these benches reflect the biomorphic contours of the human body.

These benches, featuring back supports and arm rests, are designed for the comfort of the human body. Gaudi contrasts tile - a very hard material - with the soft and comfortable design.

Even the pattern of the benches is wildly elaborate. The rigid mosaic pieces are broken up and rearranged to mimic the biomorphic form of the benches they cover. From far away, they no longer read as individual tiles, but rather one flowing mass of color from one to the other.

Gaudi was an elaborate designer, using engineering to reinforce the support of his new, creative ideas. The use of biomorphic form was radical for his time, yet in Park Guell, he used it plan, structures, and even the smallest details.

       

This new way of designing broke all of the rules of the time. Gaudi takes the rigid, conventional building styles that were typically used, and quite literally flips them on their head. Although he was a designer around the turn of the 20th century, we can say that Gaudi was a designer of the future that paved the way for new, radical ideas in landscape architecture.