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Gaudí and Reinforced Concrete in Construction

2012; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 7; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/15583058.2011.632470

1558-3066

Rosa Grima López, Antonio Aguado de, Josep Gómez Serrano,

Historical Art and Architecture Studies

AbstractThe first two decades of the 20th century witnessed the introduction and expansion of reinforced concrete as a building material in Spain. Few years passed between the introduction of the first patents in the most industrialized areas of the Iberian Peninsula and the subsequent generalization of the technique through scientific knowledge obtained in universities. This period coincides almost completely with the professional career of Antoni Gaudí, one of the most famous Catalan architects. This study reports that Gaudí had contact with this new material and discusses the transition he made from the traditional construction methods to the use of reinforced concrete in his later works. Placing the starting point in the relationship between Antonio Gaudí and the industrialists who built the first cement factories in Catalonia (especially Eusebi Güell), the research on the patents to which he had access are presented and the characteristics of his works with reinforced structures and materials are described.Keywords: Antoni Gaudíreinforced concretepatentSagrada FamiliaPark Güell ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSWe would like to thank Ma Luisa Aguado, Anna Ribas, Fructuós Mañá and Joan Bassegoda for their assistance in providing the information of which they disposed, coming from the experience of having worked closely on Gaudí's work. We would also like to thank Iñaqui Marcos and the team working in the Cátedra Gaudí for their help in our search for data on early concrete technology in our country.