Eusebi Güell

Eusebi Güell i Bacigalupi, Count of Güell (* 1846 in Barcelona, † August 8, 1918 ibid ) was a Catalan industrialist, patron and politician.

Life

Eusebi Guell, son of industrialist Joan Güell i Ferrer and the Genoese nobles Francisca Bacigalupi is known today especially because of its close connection to Antoni Gaudí. Numerous works of Gaudi therefore still bear the name of their principal and partly belong to the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

His father was a successful businessman and industrialist who first arrived in Cuba to wealth. Eusebi Güell, the law and economics in Barcelona, France and England studied, led the companies in his hometown continues successfully. He benefited from the onset of industrialization his home region in the late 19th century, especially in the textile industry. Successfully he was also in the real estate industry since he was able to draw on large land holdings, which quickly grew in value in the wake of rapid growth Barcelona. The extension of the famous Avinguda Diagonal and their development are an example of this.

Sophistication and humble at the same time, he was active both as a patron of the Arts, as well as in social projects. The workers in his textile mills such as the Colonia Guell, was able to benefit from relatively good working conditions and social benefits.

In 1875 he was a member of the City Council of Barcelona and 1878 deputy in the Provincial Assembly of Catalonia. In addition, he was a senator. For his services he was appointed by King Alfonso XIII. ennobled.

Guell and Gaudi

Güell Gaudí became aware of in the context of a smaller work to the Paris World Exhibition in 1878. They shared a lifelong friendship and business relationship. Also initiated a period of deep religiosity. Güell Gaudí led into the high society of the city and gave some orders, although the majority of the works of Gaudí faced skeptical at this point.

1884 was the first contract for the construction of some pavilions and an enclosing wall, including entrance to the Finca Güell. Two years later the construction of the Palau Guell, the new city palace of the Güell family in Barcelona began.

Güell commissioned Gaudí in 1898 to build a church for his workers 'settlement, the " Colonia Güell' in Santa Coloma de Cervello near Barcelona. The church remained unfinished after long planning phases and ongoing technical problems. Were built, only the crypt and the portico.

1900 Gaudi began construction of the Park Güell. Originally planned Güell to build a garden city, which was intended for high demands. But he was, as such, never fully realized because there were too few prospects for the planned 60 villas. Today it is the most famous park in the city and a tourist attraction.