Barcelona, La Pedrera

La Pedrera (also known as Casa Milà) was built from 1906-1912, much later than the Palau Guell seen below, which dates from 1895-1890. Gaudì is working in a more fanciful style here, using more thoroughly organic, flowing forms interpreted from nature. Again, the rooftop is a magical space of chimney-top soldiers and staircase towers that resemble the forms created in windblown sand.

Barcelona, Park Guell

Originally intended to be a housing project, Park Guell failed to find buyers and remained uncompleted. It was eventually given to the city of Barcelona for use as a public park, and it quickly became a symbol of the city itself thanks to Gaudi's marvelous amphitheatre set above a series of columns, none of which appear to be actually vertical. The ceiling of the columned area is like the floor of the sea above one's head, executed in mosaic tile.