Between 1900 and 1910, the architect experienced his stage of maximum professional splendor. In the works that Gaudí made in Barcelona, such as the Park Güell (1900-1914), the Bellesguard Tower (1900-1912), the Casa Batlló (1904-1906), La Pedrera (1906-1909) and the Crypt of the Colony Güell (1908-1914), the architect demonstrated his immense creative capacity, which placed him in the artistic avant-garde -even ahead of modernism, the prevailing trend in the great European cities-, and in the center of attention of public opinion.
Gaudí was subject to constant controversy both because of his singular ideas and because of his strong character. His defenders considered that his genius was beyond doubt, while his detractors criticized his extravagant taste and excessive ambition. The architect stayed out of these controversies, without departing from his ideas or making concessions to win supporters. In fact, he did not even give in to the pressure of the clients, who sometimes complained about the excessive formal daring of the architect and the high economic costs of the works.
The obsessive dedication to work gradually separated Gaudí from social life. That isolation worsened from 1906, when the architect's father died. The death, which occurred a few months after the two had moved to live at Park Güell, was a blow to Gaudí, who was plunged into a state of depression.
