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Park Güell - Porter's Lodge

Park Güell, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Park Güell is a garden complex with architectural elements situated on the hill of El Carmel in the Gràcia. It was designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí and built in the years 1900 to 1914. It has an extension of 17.18 ha (0.1718 km²), which makes it one of the largest architectural works in south Europe. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Works of Antoni Gaudí".

The park was originally part of a commercially unsuccessful housing site, the idea of Count Eusebi Güell, after whom the park was named. It was inspired by the English garden city movement. The intention was to exploit the fresh air (well away from smoky factories) and beautiful views from the site, with sixty triangular lots being provided for luxury houses. Ultimately, only two houses were built, neither designed by Gaudí. One was intended to be a show house, but on being completed in 1904 was put up for sale, and as no buyers came forward, Gaudí, at Güell's suggestion, bought it with his savings and moved in with his family and his father. Gaudí lived in this house from 1906 to 1926.

 

Porter's Lodge

The main entrance to Park Güell is on the south side, on Carrer d’Olot. To either side are the two pavilions that form the porter’s lodge. The one to the left was the one actually used as a porter’s lodge, with a waiting room and telephone booth.

The building has very beautiful roof, built with the traditional Catalan clay tiles covered with “trencadís”, a mosaic made of tile shards.

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Uploaded on January 22, 2014
Taken on December 18, 2013