A View from Singapore

Bellesguard Team 

Historic buildings are not only filled with anecdotes and local legends from the past. Furthermore, the modern world makes them witness new experiences and distant audiences. Such is the case of the protagonists of a visit that took place on June 9th: Willabelle Ong and her brother Ryan, two models and digital creatives from Singapore with millions of followers on Instagram and TikTok. Their areas of interest are fashion, lifestyle, and travel. Additionally, Willabelle is the founder of OMEliving, a luxury perfume brand. 

Tatler Singapore, a magazine of high quality in terms of photography and content editing, published a report last August featuring this sibling pair with the suggestive title “Mediterranean Dream.” We are pleased to know that Torre Bellesguard was one of the selected destinations. Literally, the article says: 

The Gaudí Touch  

Another golden string that’s woven into the very fabric of Barcelona is Antoni Gaudí. His visionary designs, marked by organic shapes, vibrant mosaics, a fantastical palette and the Gaudí cross define the city’s architectural landscape. And though we were surrounded by such cultural landmarks, including the Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlló in the distance, we were headed to a quieter spot-Torre Bellesguard. 

Completed in 1909, this historic residence encapsulates Gaudi’s signature blend of Gothic and modernist styles and reflects his reverence for Catalonia’s heritage. 

It wasn’t just the episcopal estate that attracted Gaudí to acquire and rebuild the house, it was its special history: in the 1409s it was a palace built by Martin I el Humano, the last king of Aragon, where he also wed his wife in the presence of Pope Benedict XIII and San Vicente Ferrer.  

Gaudí kept part of the mediaeval palace ruins, building on and around what is today a house and tower, perimetered by a flourishing garden. Flanking the tower are cypress trees- a king of the flora world with specimens known to be more than 1,000 years old, boasting evergreen leaves, resistant wood and roots that grow deep, making them a historic symbol of eternal life. The signature Gaudí cross is inspired by the cypress cone, with four arms pointing to each cardinal point and a fifth pointing to the sky.The interiors, however, contrast with the dark gothic façade-bright, airy spaces reminiscent more of Moorish architecture, framed by colourful wall tiles and curved arches designed in classic Gaudí fashion.