Architecture

Cities are full with architecture. Everywhere you look there are houses, offices, train stations, churches, restaurants and cafés, all built with a specific structure. These buildings all have a certain function to be retrieved and the goal to fit the type of function they are built for. However, the main interesting thing about buildings is the way they speak. There, architecture comes in. Architecture is about the art that a building brings to a city, like the way that the sun brings light after dark days.

Discovering the architecture of a city is like discovering its true identity. The exterior of a building speaks a thousand words, just by the looks of it. It reveals its purpose and adds a feeling to the city. Architects do architecture and great architecture is done by great architects. One of the greatest architecture’s name is Antoni Gaudi. Born in Catalunya and moved to Barcelona at the age of seventeen to study architecture. During his graduation ceremony, the director of the university phrased his doubts: “We awarded the diploma to a madman or a genius. Time will tell.” From that moment, he started taking over the Catalan architectural culture.

Several architectural masterpieces were created by Gaudi. Casa Batlló, La Predrera-Casa Milà, Parc Guëll, and of course La Sagrada Familia were all brilliant designs of him. In total, Gaudi created seven pieces of architecture spread throughout Barcelona. When visiting these structures, the voice of nature speaks to you. Nature was the main inspiration of Gaudi and the organic shapes and structures are they can be recognized throughout his architectural designs. His buildings stand out from the rest of the architecture in the city, while blending in with the style of nature.

While walking in Barcelona, every time a work of Gaudi was in sight, a glimpse of recognition striked everyone’s faces. His work is a masterpiece in the culture of Barcelona Personally, I think Gaudi is one of the greatest architects in the world In general, the architecture in Barcelona is very different from the architecture of my hometown, Enschede. In Enschede, the buildings are mainly functional and straightforward. There are no architectural pearls in the city, except from a few pitoresque theatres and the church in the city centre The culture in Enschede is similar to her architecture: it’s functional When entering the streets of Barcelona for the first time, I immediately recognized this difference. The styles are fairly different and unique in their own way. The Mediterranean vibe of Barcelona is in direct contrast to the brick-style of Enschede

For me, the difference in culture can directly be seen in the architecture of a city. A glance on the structure and style immediately shows what the history and the identity of a city is Culture is not only the behaviour and lifestyle of citizens, it is much more than that I am grateful for the opportunity that has been given to me to explore the cultural differences in the city of Barcelona and it was an amazing experience to see the work of a great architecture like Gaudi in real life