We have discovered Güell’s colony with an international students’ team. We welcomed the students of the Institut Josep Lluís Sert and their colleagues from the Stedelijke Scholen Gemeenschap Nijmegen (The Netherlands), participating in an Erasmus + project. It has been a great and pleasured experience for all of us.
Students travelled back to the begining of the XX century to immerse into the life of the industrial Colònia Güell. They visited the industrial textile area, they started by discovering the spinning process, the weaving at the sawtooth roof building, the magnificient dryers and the chimney. The steam engine that moved the looms was one of the most powerful ones of the period. By the way, they used maths and trigonometry to calculate the height of the chimney. Great class!
Then, they explored the village in groups and completed the sticker album. Workers had all the required services for not having to move away from the colony! The owner’s paternalism is clearly exemplified in the village design. They identified in pairs Ca l’espinal, Ca l’ordal, can Soler de la Torre, Joan Güell square and the theatre and Ateneu Unió.
Students finally visited the Centre d’interpretació de la Colònia Güell and discovered Gaudi’s art piece, the hidden crypt! Build more than a century ago using the paraboloide and funicular arch. Gaudi was a nature lover and he used recycled materials. What an artist!
They loved the activity and worked in harmony understanding the textile process and the catalan modernisme beyond the classical Sagrada Familia visit. The Dutch have discovered, thanks to the Catalans, the hidden treasure og Gaudí.
Have a nice stage in Castelldefels!