www.gaudi2002.bcn.es

Throughout its history, Barcelona has been an open and welcoming city. Thanks to the economic momentum and the social progress, between the end of the 19th century and the begining of the 20th it experienced a dynamic process of modernisation which influenced town development and all the artistic expressions. The style of that period was called Modernism and it coincided with the European formulation of Art Nouveau. It was deeply rooted in all areas of society which adopted it as one of the most representative styles. This is why Barcelona is one of the world capitals of Modernism.

Many interpretations have been made of Gaudí's work. Some consider it is traditional and others believe that it is avant-gardist. Some call Gaudí a great artist and others, a great technician. Some people define him as a transgressor but some defend his mysticism. Everybody, however, coincides in affirming that his buildings are surprising, different, and, therefore, difficult to classify.

In 2002, Barcelona will commemorate the 150th anniversary of Antoni Gaudí's birth (1852-1926), the architect who has made the city known around the world. The Gaudí International Year will publicise his work and show how Gaudí broke with tradition in order to propose a new way of understanding architecture in terms of the application of geometry, the conception of space and the constructive procedures as well as in the use of materials, forms and colours which helped him to lend expressiveness to his works. In order to celebrate the event, Barcelona is preparing a programme of multiple and varied activities on which we will gradually offer information through this website.