A controversial hidden gem

'If you make an altar of stone for Me, you shall not build it of cut stones, for if you wield your tool on it, you will profane it.' -Exodus 20:25


Colonia Güell

Colonia Güell is an industrial village of the entrepreneur Eusebio Güell that began its construction around 1880s. Unlike most of the industrial villages at that time, Eusebio Güell valued the workers' rights and the community, in which he hired various Modernism architects to build houses, school, and church within the colony. One of the most famous buildings in the colony is the unfinished Church of Colonia Güell designed by Antoni Gaudi. Since only the crypt of the Church was complete, it is also called the Crypt of Gaudi. 

Modernism style housings can be spotted easily around the town. The use of brick patterns gives more freedom on the facade and structure design.

The Crypt of Gaudi

Since Colonia Güell is a little far away from Barcelona, the crypt is naturally not a primary tourist spot, and therefore often time being forgotten and ignored. It does not mean the building is less inspiring than other of his works, in fact, the architect Antoni Gaudi stated himself saying that this Church is his favorite work! 

The significance of the Church is that, it is the first ever project in which Gaudi put together all his architecture gestures and innovations. From the unique stone facades and the innovative structures, to even the furniture and railings in the Church are all brought together by Gaudi to this world. He spent 10 years on designing this project and came out with the structure design method for this building as the prototype of the epic Sagrada Familia. 

Gaudi used various local materials for the construction. He used up to 5 or 6 different stones for the facade and columns. We can see the fin-like structural elements that form the arches for the ceiling and create a unique geometric pattern for the space 

A noticeable feature is the raw unpolished stone columns. Everyone questioned this design during the construction phase, yet only one of the young interns dared to ask Gaudi. Gaudi stated that it is a reference to the Bible quote: 'If you make an altar of stone for Me, you shall not build it of cut stones, for if you wield your tool on it, you will profane it.' -Exodus 20:25. This also demonstrates how faithful Gaudi was to his religion. 

The renovation for the project was a disaster carried out by architect Antonio Gonzalez Moreno later. Gonzalez replaced many of the unfinished pieces with his own method, including the stairwell designed by Gaudi. He also placed fences around the site so people have to pay to visit. The whole restoration nearly let UNESCO disqualify its World Heritage Sites title. The architect was fired in 2008 and the restoration has been postponed forever. 

In the end, only the foundation part had been built. We can only look at the study model and imagine the monumentality of the Church. Some of the materials are also left on site, waiting one day to bring the glory of Gaudi into this world.