The confusing structural complexity ot the Palau Güell

Abstract

The rational organization of the façades of the Palau Güell does not reveal —according to the authors of this paper— the building's spatial wealth nor the complexity of its structure. A structure which has a clear general conception in the upper floors, becomes more complicated in the lower ones, where one can see that Gaudí had to reinforce specific points as he went along when he realized their inadequacy for future work. These "reformulations" the authors believe, are not brilliant structural solutions and, as a whole, the structure of the building must be described as confusing. They, therefore, ask themselves whether this structure is the skeleton of an architectural masterpiece and propose that the answer serve as a starting point for a revision of the work of Gaudí.