A peaceful world…Spanish genius Gaudi was an SDG pioneer

Gaudi’s eccentric designs are often the focus of attention, but in fact, his buildings are also designed to make life easier by utilizing natural energy, such as water and air.

Ken Yamamura, an associate professor at Tokyo Polytechnic University who became fascinated with Gaudi and decided to become an architect, says, “Gaudi was a great architect.

The SDGs, a set of development goals to build a better and sustainable future for all people, are now being implemented around the world to achieve these goals by 2030. But 150 years ago, a man created a building that incorporated the ideas of the SDGs. Antoni Gaudi. Spain’s most famous architect.

Building using natural energy 150 years ago.

Barcelona has many buildings by his hand, including the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Park Güell, and Casa Batlló.

Construction of the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, which began in the early 1880s, is still underway nearly 140 years after construction began, and is a must-see stop for visitors to Barcelona.

Gaudi believed that man and nature should coexist in harmony. He also incorporated natural forms into his architecture, saying that nature is beautiful and that its beautiful forms are what make it structurally stable. The many columns in the Sagrada Familia Cathedral are modeled after trees, and the ceiling is supported by the branches growing from the trunk.

Mr. Jesús Sanz, Counselor for Cultural and Scientific Affairs at the Embassy of Spain, said, “The Spanish Embassy has a very strong commitment to the cultural and scientific aspects of the country.

There is nothing “linear” in nature. That is why Gaudi’s works have so many curves. The “houses” created by Gaudí are unique in design and look a bit difficult to live in. However, Mr. Yamamura says, “They are very easy to live in.

For example, Casa Batlló, an apartment complex, is located between buildings on both sides, making it difficult for the wind to blow through, so a courtyard was created and each unit has a breezeway, allowing residents to freely adjust ventilation levels.

Innovations to harness natural energy

In Güell Park, sand is spread over the plaza to filter rainwater, which passes through the columns and is stored in an underground cistern. When the cistern is full, water flows from the mouth of the “lizard” sculpture, the symbol of Güell Park.

This is truly an implementation of one of the goals of the SDGs, “creating a town where people can continue to live,” using natural energy. Gaudi was also a pioneer of the SDGs. An exhibition focusing on Gaudi’s achievements, “Antoni Gaudi, Pioneer of SDGs: Shapes and Colors, Hints from 150 Years Ago,” is being held at the Embassy of Spain in Tokyo. The exhibition includes interesting exhibits such as a replica of a “ventilation window of a house” and a “lizard’s mouth.

Considering the Workers’ Environment and Implementing the SDGs

Gaudi was also a man who cared about his craftsmen. The Sagrada Familia Cathedral has a school attached to it. to the He planned for the children to study when their father was at work, and to return home with him when he was finished. In recent years, companies have set up daycare centers in workplaces, but Gaudi 150 years ago, they were already thinking about it.

He also valued communication with his craftsmen. When building a house, various craftsmen are involved, such as the woodworker who makes the window frames and the tile craftsman who decorates the exterior walls. Every morning, he would discuss with each craftsman how he could have them create what he envisioned.

Until now, Gaudi had an image of being a “difficult person with an artistic temperament. However, this was never the case, according to Mr. Yamamura.

Gaudi was a man of his word,” Yamamura says. My only strength is in bringing out the best in each person who works for me, so that they can do their job well. I think that’s what he means. That’s my favorite quote.

One of the goals of the SDGs is “both job satisfaction and economic growth. Gaudi was putting the SDGs into practice in this area as well.

The materials were lost due to the ravages of war. The quest for peace

But we can only speculate now about what Gaudi was thinking and how he intended to build it. Gaudi’s drawings Drawing and its model. Many He made and rebuilt them over and over again to bring them closer and closer to completion. Civil War Most of them were destroyed during the Great East Japan Earthquake,” says Yamamura.

Today, construction of the Sagrada Familia Cathedral continues based on the few remaining documents.

Gaudi loved to take walks. He would walk, touching the grass and trees, feeling the wind and the light, and sometimes 10 It is said that he walked for as long as 3.5 kilometers. This was possible because of the peace. It was Gaudi who loved peace more than anyone else.

When the world settles down, please come and visit Spain. Spain is rich in diversity, and there are many places I would like to recommend. Montserrat, near Barcelona, is famous for its saw-toothed rocky mountains, which were the motif for many of Gaudi’s works, including the Sagrada Familia Cathedral.

On the island of Majorca Drac. The stalactite caves of the Caves are also mysterious and inspired Gaudí. May this beauty be preserved forever. From the bottom of my heart, I wish for peace,” said Jesús Sanz.

Antoni Gaudi. The “world” dreamed by this architectural genius whose works continue to be created even after his death. His spirit has certainly been carried on.

*”SDGs Pioneer Antoni Gaudi: Shapes and Colors, Hints from 150 Years Ago” is being held at the Embassy of Spain in Roppongi, Tokyo (free admission, until March 31).