A visit to Park Güell: a lesson in architecture and nature

As an architect, I have always been fascinated by the work of Antoni Gaudí: the singular forms, the ability to draw beauty from simple materials, and methods far ahead of his time. When the chance came to visit Park Güell, in Barcelona, I knew I couldn't miss it.

The visit was a one-of-a-kind experience. Gaudí doesn't impose the building on the landscape: he lets the architecture grow out of the ground. The paths follow the slope of the hill, the columns mimic tree trunks, and the famous winding bench, clad in colourful mosaics, embraces the terrace as if it were part of the mountain itself.

Beyond admiring the structures, it was a true lesson in art history, and in how nature can be the starting point of a project, not a finish glued on at the end. The trees, the flowers and the winding paths make the walk as peaceful as it is enchanting.

I left with the conviction I carry into every project: when architecture and landscape are thought out together, the result isn't merely beautiful: it welcomes you. I recommend that any architect visit Park Güell. It is a place that teaches as much as it moves you.