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Gaudi’s First House in Barcelona to Open as a Museum (PHOTOS)

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Antoni Gaudi's first work of architecture, Casa Vicens, will be open to the public as a museum in the Fall of 2017. (Pol Viladoms/Casa Vicens)

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Antoni Gaudi's first work of architecture, Casa Vicens, will be open to the public as a museum in the Fall of 2017. (Pol Viladoms/Casa Vicens)

Casa Vicens, the first major work of architecture designed by architect Antoni Gaudí, will finally open its doors as a museum dedicated to the architect in the Fall of 2017.

Located in Barcelona, Casa Vicens is a home Gaudi built during his orientalist period that lasted between 1883 and 1888, just at the start of his career. In 1993, the home was declared a national historic monument and later also declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005.

Now known for his organic structures and vibrant colors, Gaudi’s first home exhibits his classic signature touch. Casa Vicens broke away from tradition by using a combination of textures, colors and materials that encompassed a Hispano-Arabic inspiration. The home was the beginning to a new era of style in Catalan architecture, a renewal of aesthetic that was rising throughout Europe in the late 19th century.

In 2014, the home was purchased by MoraBanc, a private family bank in Andorra, with the goal of making it a public space for visitors. The renovation project has been led by architects José Antonio Martínez Lapeña, Elías Torres and David García.

Follow along the final stages of Casa Vicens’ renovations through their Instagram.