The Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi’s vision and mission were to embody nature in his buildings. He had three major passions: God, nature, and architecture, and the Sagrada Familia stands as a testament to his principles.
Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, also known as the Sagrada Familia, is one of the oldest unfinished buildings in the world. Its construction began in 1882 under architect Francisco de Paula del Villar, but Gaudi took over the project a year later, transforming it into the iconic building it is today.
Today, it has become one of the most famous buildings in Europe and one of the most visited sites in Barcelona. Gaudi’s work is considered revolutionary, and the cathedral is set to be completed in 2026 — 100 years after his passing.
Controversies surrounding the Sagrada Familia
The construction of the Sagrada Familia was controversial even before it started. First, it was commissioned by bookseller Josep Maria Bocabella instead of the official archdiocese. Five generations later, some citizens of Barcelona are still divided over it.
Another issue is Gaudi’s design itself. His nature-inspired work — biomimetic architecture — is different from the straight geometric designs of other cathedrals. So his buildings resemble natural formations like trees, animals, and plants. Some people think this unique design is ugly and doesn’t represent what a cathedral should be. For example, Author George Orwell called the building one of the most hideous buildings he had ever seen.
Some were also concerned that the Sagrada Familia may outshine Barcelona’s official cathedral. When it’s completed, it will be the tallest cathedral in Europe.
Lastly, there is concern that the Sagrada Familia is not what Gaudi had envisioned. When he died in 1926, the cathedral was only 15-25 percent complete. Unfortunately, in 1936, when the Spanish Civil War broke out, vandals destroyed Gaudi’s models and plans for the basilica. So later, architects who took over the project had to work from their interpretations of Gaudi’s foundation and principles.
What makes the Sagrada Familia so famous
Towers
Gaudi wanted to create a building that evoked a sense of the divine. The Sagrada Familia combines several styles, such as Spanish Late Gothic, Catalan Modernism, and Art Nouveau.
He also wanted the cathedral to have 18 spindly towers or spires. They were to be constructed in ascending order, starting with the Twelve Apostles, the four Evangelists, the Virgin Mary, and, to top them all, a tower for Jesus Christ.
The towers representing the evangelists will have sculptures on top corresponding to their traditional symbols. Traditionally, a bull represents Luke, a winged man for Matthew, an eagle for John, and a lion for Mark. On top of Jesus’ tower, a gigantic cross will mark the highest point of the Sagrada Familia at 560 feet (about 170 meters).
Gaudi believed manufactured objects should never be taller than God’s creation, so this cathedral is about a meter shorter than Montjuic Mountain in Barcelona. So far, 13 of the spires have been completed, and hopefully, the last one will be completed by 2026.
Façades
The Sagrada Familia will have three grand façades: the Nativity Façade, the Passion Façade, and the Glory Façade. The Nativity Façade to the east was the only one completed during Gaudi’s lifetime. It shows the birth of Jesus and is divided into three portals — the left one for Joseph, the right for the Virgin Mary, and the middle one for Jesus. Gaudi knew the cathedral wouldn’t be finished in his lifetime, so he chose to start with the Nativity scene and set an example for others.
The Passion Façade facing the West shows the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Its construction began in 1956 and was completed in 1976. Gaudi envisioned this façade to be “hard, bare, and as if made by bone” to represent the last day of Jesus, his crucifixion, and the sin of man. Gaudi said he didn’t start with this façade because he wanted it to strike fear into onlookers and show the pain of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. So unlike the well-decorated Nativity Façade, this one is plain and simple.
Lastly, the Glory Façade shows Christ’s everlasting glory and ascension to Heaven. It will be the most magnificent façade, and the work on this part began in 2002. Gaudi made only a general sketch of what this façade would look like because he wanted other architects to incorporate their unique artistic styles.
Interior
The interior of Sagrada Familia elevates your experience to a whole new level. The cathedral has massive tree-shaped columns towering 230 feet (70 meters) to the ceiling. It has enormous stained-glass windows that evoke a heavenly feel by streaming warm sunlight into the interior.
You can also see historical drawings, figures, and pictures showing the Sagrada Familia’s history and evolution from 1882. None of the interior surfaces are flat, representing Gaudi’s vision of adopting nature’s organic forms for this church.
Very few architectural works embody symbolism the way Gaudi did. Overall, the Sagrada Familia represents the life of Jesus Christ. However, throughout the building, you’ll see different themes like faith, hope, and love. He also designed images of a turtle and a tortoise on the cathedral’s pillars to represent earth and water. On completion, various decorations represent saints, prayers, virtues, sins, secular concepts, and more.
The slow rise of a masterpiece
Gaudi is said to have declared: “My client is not in a hurry.” He wanted to create a slow work of art that would draw people in and show them nature and divinity. Also, the Sagrada Familia has never been funded by private investors and has always relied on donations from people and tourism proceeds. This is one of the reasons it has taken so long to complete.
Still, the Sagrada Familia’s lengthy construction timeline is part of its charm. Once complete, it will be a unique site representing breathtaking interiors, innovative architecture, and divine symbolism.
