Gaudí had a profound relationship with wood. He used it as a building material and also as a primary element in interior design, furniture, and decorative items.
Wood in Interior Design
A clear example of the use of wood in interior design can be found in Casa Batlló, where visitors can admire the extensive use of carved wood with ergonomic and organic forms. The wooden doors, moldings, railings, and coffered ceilings feature undulating shapes inspired by the sea.
Gaudí’s interiors were not only beautiful but also ergonomic and functional. Wood dampens sound and prevents harsh reverberations. Furthermore, it is a warm material to the touch and has good insulating properties, which make it highly practical for homes.
Furniture and Functionality
Wood is a lightweight material that allowed Gaudí to create functional furniture. He designed comfortable, human-centered furniture, although owners removed some of the pieces he created from their original placement because they found them uncomfortable. Museums now preserve these pieces as valuable works.
Wood as an Organic and Exclusive Element
Gaudí used wood to create warmth in his designs. Furthermore, because he deeply committed himself to integrating nature into his works, wood represented an essential and exclusive organic element. When we contemplate wood, we appreciate that each grain is unique, generating a feeling of exclusivity among his clients from the Catalan upper bourgeoisie.
The malleability of wood makes it easy to work, bend, shape, assemble, and join without losing strength. This characteristic allows craftsmen to create organic forms, smooth surfaces, and intricate details that stone or metal could never achieve.
“Wood is the most affectionate of materials: it holds the warmth of the sun and the memory of the forest.”
Henry David Thoreau – Walden (1854)
Timber Structures and the Mataró Warehouse
Gaudí also used wood in timber structures. A clear example appears in the Gaudí warehouse in Mataró, which I visited with students from the Timber Construction Course and during the “Parlem de Fusta… a Mataró” prelude event (Let’s Talk About Wood… in Mataró), organized by the commercial department of Gremi Fusta i Moble at the FAGEM headquarters in February 2018.
Gaudí designed this large warehouse for the textile cooperative in 1883. This was the first work he designed and built, and it already demonstrates his interest in parabolic forms, which he later developed with other materials. Parabolic wooden arches support the building structure.
Wood possesses natural elasticity that absorbs vibrations and deformations without breaking. For this reason, it is ideal both for the parabolic curves of the Mataró warehouse and for elements that withstand continuous use, such as doorknobs, railings, and chairs.
Conclusion
Before concluding, I would like to emphasize that Gaudí knew how to use wood efficiently. Wood is an accessible, locally sourced, renewable material that remains compatible with Catalan artisanal traditions and acts as a carbon sink. Therefore, we must rediscover Gaudí’s artistic language and restore wood to the noble position it deserves.