The showy moderniste style took shape as successful entrepreneurs commissioned elaborate villas . Modernisme , or Catalan modernism , emerged in the late 1800s in Barcelona . The city 's medieval structures contrast sharply with its moderniste landmarks . Architect Antoni Gaudí was a key figure of this movement and his work is still admired by many architects today.
Modernisme , or Catalan modernism , emerged in the late 1800s in Barcelona . The city 's medieval structures contrast sharply with its moderniste landmarks . Architect Antoni Gaudí was a key figure of this movement and his work is still admired by many architects today.