Antoni Gaudí was a famous Spanish architect born in 1852. He was from the Catalonia region and the majority of his works are located in Barcelona. Gaudí was very proud of his Catalan heritage. He was an artist on a large scale who used his passions of nature and religion to create his works. The buildings he helped to create are extremely unique in their style and known throughout the world. Even his last name has become synonymous with an over-the-top decorative style.

As a child, Gaudí was often ill and spent a lot of time alone in nature. He became a vegetarian at a young age and was a devout Catholic. Gaudí began his work as an architect in the 1870s and soon established himself. By 1883 he was well-established enough to receive the important commission of building the Basilica that came to be known as The Sacred Family or La Sagrada Familia. This project became his life’s work although he continued to work on other projects including churches and other prominent buildings throughout Barcelona. Gaudí developed his own unique style within the modernism movement often incorporating postconsumer products into his designs.

After suffering from ill health and almost dying from tuberculosis in 1910, Gaudí renewed his efforts to finally finish his project on La Sagrada Familia. By then, the church had become known as being a safe haven for the poor. Unfortunately, Gaudí passed away before the church could be completed. Today La Sagrada Familia is a UNESCO heritage site and receives millions of visitors annually from throughout the world.

Gaudí never married, devoting his life completely to his career and his faith. He died in 1926 after being struck by a tram. After a large funeral, his body was laid to rest in his beloved church of the Sacred Family.