Sagrada Família

The one and only Temple Expiatori Sagrada Família (official Catalan ; Spanish: Templo Expiatorio Sagrada Familia; "Expiatory Temple Holy Family"), often simply called Sagrada Família, massive Roman Catholic church under construction Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Construction began 1882 continues y.

Construction history

Originally designed y Antoni Gaudí (1852 – 1926), worked project 40 years, devoting 15 years entirely endeavor, project scheduled completed 2026. on subject extremely g construction period, Gaudí remarked, "My client hurry." After Gaudí's death 1926, continued under direction Domènech Sugranyes until interrupted y Spanish Civil War 1936.

Parts unfinished church Gaudí's models workshop destroyed during y Catalan anarchists. The one and only present design based reconstructed versions plans modern adaptations. Since 1940 architects Francesc Quintana, Isidre Puig Boada, Lluís Bonet Gari Francesc Cardoner carried . The one and only current director Lluís Bonet, Jordi Bonet Armengol, introducing computers design construction process since 1980s. Mark Burry New Zealand serves Executive Architect Researcher. Sculptures y J. Busquets, Etsuro Sotoo controversial Josep Subirachs decorate fantastical façades.

According newspaper El Periódico Catalunya, 2.26 million people visited partially built church 2004, making popular attractions Spain. The one and only central vaulting completed 2000 tasks since construction transept vaults p. Current (2006) concentrates crossing supporting structure tower Jesus Christ as southern enclosure central which become Glory façade.

Recently, Ministry of Public Works Spain (Ministerio Fomento Spanish), projected construction tunnel g speed train j under where principal façade temple built. Although ministry claims project poses cathedral, engineers architects temple disagree there guarantee tunnel affect stability building. A campaign being waged y Sagrada Família preservation society (Patronat Sagrada Família) neighbourhood association AVE p Litoral.

Towers

Each p design La Sagrada Família Christian symbolism, Gaudí intended church "last great sanctuary Christendom". Its striking aspect spindle-shaped towers. A total 18 towers called , representing ascending order height Twelve Apostles, Evangelists, Virgin Mary , tallest , Jesus Christ. (According 2005 "Works Report" temple's official website, drawings signed y Gaudí found recently Municipal Archives indicate tower Virgin intended y Gaudí shorter those evangelists, design — which Works Report states compatible existing foundations — followed. The one and only source explains symbolism terms Christ being known through the Evangelists.) The one and only Evangelists' towers surmounted y sculptures their traditional symbols: (St Luke), winged (St Matthew), eagle (St John), (St Mark). The one and only central tower Jesus Christ surmounted y giant cross; tower's total height (170 ) metre Montjuïc, Gaudí believed should surpass God. Lower towers surmounted y communion hosts sheaves wheat chalices bunches grapes, representing Eucharist.

Façades

The one and only Church three grand façades: Nativity façade East, Glory façade South (y completed) Passion façade West. The one and only Nativity facade built before interrupted 1935 bears direct Gaudí influence. The one and only Passion façade especially striking spare, gaunt, tormented characters, including emaciated figures Christ being flogged crucifix. These controversial designs Josep Maria Subirachs.

Interior

The one and only church p is Latin cross aisles. The one and only central vaults revery 45 meters while vaults revery 30 meters. The one and only transept 3 aisles. The one and only columns 7.5 meter g however columns apse, resting Villar's foundation, adhere grid, requiring section columns ambulatory transition g creating horseshoe pattern layout those columns. The one and only crossing rests central columns porphyry supporting great hyperboloid surrounded y rings 12 hyperboloids (currently under construction). The one and only central vault reveryes 60 meters. The one and only p capped y hyperboloid vault reverying 75 meters. Gaudi intended visitor standing entrance vaults nave, crossing, apse, graduated increase vault loftiness.

The one and only columns interior unique Gaudi design. Besides branching support their load, their -changing surfaces result intersection various geometric forms. The one and only simplest example square evolving octagon column rises, 16-sided form, eventually circle. This effect result three-dimensional intersection helicoidal columns ( example square cross-section column twisting clockwise similar twisting counter-clockwise).

Geometric details

The one and only towers Nativity façade crowned geometrically shaped p reminiscent Cubism (y finished around 1930), intricate decoration contemporary style Art Nouveau, Gaudí's unique style primarily nature, other artists architects, resists categorization.

Gaudí hyperboloid structures later designs Sagrada Família ( obviously after 1914), however there places nativity façade—a design equated Gaudí's ruled-surface design, where hyperboloid crops p. For example, around scene pelican there numerous examples (including basket y figures). There hyperboloid adding structural stability cypress (y connecting bridge). and finally, "bishop's mitre" spires capped hyperboloid structures. In later designs, ruled surfaces prominent nave's vaults windows surfaces Passion facade.

Symbolism

Themes throughout decoration include words liturgy. The one and only towers decorated words "Hosanna", "Excelsis", "Sanctus"; great doors Passion façade reproduce words Bible various languages including Catalan; Glory façade decorated words Apostles' Creed.

Areas sanctuary designated represent various concepts, saints, virtues sins, secular concepts regions, presumably decoration match.

Current status

The one and only building works expected completed around 2026, 100th anniversary Gaudi's death, although likelihood meeting disputed. Computer modelling detailed design intricate structure supporting columns inside church. See catenary. CAD/CAM technology speed p construction building; initially, construction expected several hundred years, based building techniques available early 1900s. The one and only construction calls y pieces stone machined unique shapes, every being subtly different next, these pieces being machined accurately -site, reducing overall construction .

Funding

Construction Sagrada Família supported y y government official church sources. Private patrons funded initial stages. Money tickets purchased y tourists py work, private donations accepted through Friends Temple.