Modernism

Sensuality in shapes, organic figures, colourful fantasy... Modernism, like Art Nouveau in France, was opposed to bourgeois conservatism and wanted to bring culture and art closer to the people, while aesthetically reconverting cities. In Catalonia, this current had its own personality. Reus, together with Barcelona, was transformed thanks to the contributions of great architects such as Antoni Gaudí, Lluís Domènech i Montaner or Josep Puig i Cadafalch. The Art Nouveau Route in Reus will allow you to discover the facades of 26 modernist buildings, which culminate with a view of the Gaudí Centre Interpretation Centre.

It is also worth mentioning another name, that of Josep M. Jujol, draughtsman, designer, painter and prominent Catalan modernist architect who collaborated with Gaudí, who built several modernist buildings on the Costa Daurada such as the Church of Montferri, the Church of Vistabella or the Casa Bofarull in Els Pallaresos. Check out his work at www.territorijujol.com. 

Did you know...?

• Antoni Gaudí is one of the most representative historical figures of Catalan culture for having created a unique architecture inspired by nature and organic elements. In fact, in 2002 it was proclaimed Gaudí International Year in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of his birth.
• Although he did not stand out precisely for his good grades when he was studying at school, Gaudí mastered geometry and mathematical calculations with intuitive methods that he applied to his architecture so that his shapes resembled nature as much as possible.
• His architectural contribution was to define three surfaces with ingenious names from botany and physiology, such as: helicoid -which comes from a eucalyptus trunk.; hyperboloid -is the shape of the femur-; and hyperbolic paraboloid - the shape taken by the tendons of a hand.