My travels usually revolve around delicacies; pizza, risotto, croissants - mainly because the trips were planned by my parents. This focus often obscured historical wonders that surrounded me, making them look like mere chunks of stone. This is something I regret, but the summer of 2016 was one exception. This trip to Barcelona, Spain was one that greatly influenced me, and one of my favorites so far. This is where I first met Gaudí.
  From the moment we entered the heart of the city, “vibrant” was the word that first came into mind. Bright colors and lively people greeted me as we made our way into the city. We made our way to Sagrada Família, the most famous landmark of Barcelona. Still under construction, many cranes were looming over the spires. At first sight, it was different from other churches I had seen. It looked like a castle from a children’s storybook. Closer, I was astonished. The huge facade facing East, hard to even look up at, was filled with detailed and realistic sculptures carved into the stone wall. Facing the rising sun, it narrated the birth of Christ. Following the beautiful sculptures with my eyes alone was enough to keep me entertained. The West facade was also filled with stone sculptures depicting the crucifixion of Jesus. This side, facing the setting sun, was filled with sculptures of rigid, minimalized style fitting to the story it presents. The different styles of the two facades were imposing, which were due to the change of chief architect after Gaudí’s death. The South facade was still under construction, planned to portray the death and the glory of Jesus. Personal religion aside, the amount of detail and hidden symbols put into the design made it clear why Gaudí is known as one of the greatest architects of all time.
  Inside the church, just when I thought nothing else could make me more astonished, there awaited the magical forest of Gaudí. The sunlight filtered through the colorful stained glasses, illuminating the pillars resembling huge tree trunks. This was the moment I realized that space could make people feel something. I realized I wanted to create something like this. This was the moment that I made up my mind to be an architect.
  The next day we were off to Park Güell and Casa Batlló, another work of Gaudí. It was different from any famous architecture that I have encountered, especially in the use of curves. This is because Gaudí’s architectural inspiration mostly came from nature. Gaudí thought straight lines were artificial, so he avoided using clean, perfect lines in his architecture and used unpredictable curves and shapes instead. In his architecture, you can notice how details like windows, terraces, and chimneys resemble waves, human bones, and even dragons. Another characteristic of Gaudí’s architecture that surprised me was his attention to small details. If Sagrada Família’s forest made me think of architecture as a work of “building an atmosphere”, Park Güell and Casa Batlló made me realize that architecture is in fact a work of “building a lifestyle”. Gaudí designed not only the Casa Batlló itself but also most of its furniture. The ergonomic design of Park Güell’s terrace bench and Casa Batlló’s knobs were also Gaudí’s design. 
  The way that Gaudí took his observation from nature and applied it to his profession and the way he designed people’s lives continues to inspire me, even when I am no longer pursuing architecture. Although I am still deciding on what I want to do, the objective of positively impacting others remains the same. And the way Gaudí transformed his observation of nature into a creative expression is something that I deeply admire. I thought architecture drifted away from me, but I guess the essence of it was with me all along. The Spirit of Gaudí’s architecture is something that has inspired me greatly and will continue to stay with me.