Lots of Chinese influence in the great master's works

Hou, who was one of the first Chinese experts to study Gaudi, began that work in the 1980s.

Last year, Hou set up Gaudi Shanghai Projects to boost research on the architect as well as increase exchanges in culture and art between Spain and China. It's authorized by the Gaudi Barcelona Projects, a company formed to spread and apply knowledge all about Gaudi issued by the Gaudi Research Institute.

He plans to open a Gaudi-themed restaurant in Shanghai later this year, featuring menus inspired by Gaudi's art.

"The architect created so many marvelous works influenced by Chinese culture. Why can't we learn from him and do something in China in return," says Hou about his works on Gaudi and the plans related to him in future.

In fact, many foreign master architects influenced by Gaudi are now designing buildings for China, such as Italian architect Benedetta Tagliabue.

Tagliabue, who attended the congress in Shanghai, admits that her obsession with curved lines comes from Gaudi.

The Italian architect gained fame for her design of the Spanish Pavilion for the Shanghai Expo in 2010 and the new Scottish Parliament, a joint effort with her husband Enric Miralles.

Tagliabue is now designing the Zhang Daqian Museum in Neijiang－Zhang's hometown in Sichuan province. In her work dedicated to Zhang－one of the best-known and most prodigious Chinese artists of the 20th century－she integrates many oriental elements, such as bamboo and gourds.

She says it's very interesting that she is now doing architecture for the Chinese after she was influenced by Gaudi, who was first influenced by Eastern culture.

Hou says Gaudi's influence in the world is not only limited to architecture but includes many other fields－art, city planning and even food.

He hopes all this can be used by the Chinese to develop more creativity in the future.