The earlier Spanish measurement system that changed to meters in Gaudi's lifetime was, like the English system, more 12-centric than 10-centric.

In a way, base-10-centric measurements are the victors of a three thousand year battle between group-by-10s beancounter arithmatical people in Egypt/Mesopotamia and the also ancient 12-centric make-things-easily-divisible architect/construction geometers.

True, 12 doesn't match the number of fingers or toes... but have you ever considered it does match the number of spaces around our fingers and toes?