When, in 1890, industrialist and patron of the arts Eusebi Güell decided to move his textile mill away from the social unrest of Barcelona, he commissioned Antoni Gaudí to design Colonia Güell, a purpose-built industrial colony in Santa Coloma de Cervelló, 23km south-west of the city. Unlike many large business owners of the time, Güell was a compassionate employer dedicated to improving the working conditions of his many employees. As well as furnishing the colony with terraced housing, gardens, a school and shops, he enlisted the expertise of some of the leading Modernista architects of the time to enhance the aesthetic of the village. The result was a spacious village with many beautiful facades and details, including one of Gaudí’s lesser-known masterpieces.
