Gaudí's lesser-known neo-gothic buildings spotlighted in centenary series

Dezeen's Gaudí Centenary series concludes by examining five early neo-gothic works by Antoni Gaudí, which contrast sharply with his famous tile-covered organic forms. These stone-based buildings, located outside central Barcelona and beyond Catalonia, include the College of Saint Teresa-Ganduxer (1889), Casa Botines in León (1892), the Episcopal Palace in Astorga (1893), Bodegas Güell in Sitges (1897), and Bellesguard in Barcelona (1909). Each structure draws on medieval architecture: the college was modeled on a castle, Casa Botines features a partial moat, the Episcopal Palace is surrounded by a moat and built in grey granite, Bodegas Güell uses triangular forms to complement its coastal site, and Bellesguard sits on the ruins of a medieval castle. Gaudí aimed to improve gothic ideals while developing his own style, incorporating elements like cast-iron columns, light wells, integrated buttresses, and decorative chimneys. Casa Botines now operates as a museum, while Bodegas Güell is closed to the public. The series marks 100 years since Gaudí's death.