What nickname did Gaudí's Catholic imagery earn him?

Gaudí’s Catholic imagery earned him the nickname “God’s Architect.” The label reflects the increasingly religious character of his work and public identity, especially during the later decades of his life.

Religious symbolism appears throughout his architecture, from the monumental Sagrada Família to the crypt at Colònia Güell and the planned chapel-like features of Park Güell. Gaudí did not treat ornament as separate decoration: crosses, biblical references, sacred geometry, and natural forms were integrated into the structure and visual experience of his buildings.

The nickname does not mean Gaudí was an official church architect or that he designed only religious buildings. He also created private homes, schools, gardens, urban residences, and civic structures. His faith intensified with age, and in his final years he devoted much of his energy to the Sagrada Família, where he eventually lived and worked in a studio near the crypt.