Architecture

Palau Güell

Barcelona, Spain

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Palau Güell compresses a family residence, reception rooms, and inventive structure into a narrow urban site near La Rambla. Gaudí designed it for industrialist Eusebi Güell, using light, rich materials, and a central hall to connect public display with domestic life.

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From the street, the two elaborate iron gates hint that Palau Güell was designed for more than ordinary household entry. Eusebi Güell commissioned Gaudí to build a new city residence, and construction began in 1886. The palace’s narrow plot required a compact arrangement, with a central hall rising through the building and gathering light from above.

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Quick facts

  • Eusebi Güell commissioned the residence.
  • Construction began in 1886 and continued through 1890.
  • The building has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.

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