For over 100 years, people have been amazed by Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia church. It’s a beautiful building with fancy carvings and decorations that all have special meanings.
Started in 1882 by the architect Antoni Gaudí, it is still under construction today.
This article discusses the causes behind the prolonged building timeline, tells the intriguing tale of Sagrada Familia, and reveals when it is expected to be completed.
Challenges and Milestones
The construction of the Sagrada Familia was fraught with difficulties from the start.
Gaudí’s vision was unorthodox, requiring new methods focusing on organic forms and minute details.
He used cutting-edge methods, such as hanging models, to calculate the ideal angles for arches and columns.
Gaudí also prioritized building on site, making intricate plaster models that guided the stonemasons.
Gaudí tragically lost his life in 1926 after being run over by a streetcar.
Other architects constructed the Sagrada Familia, painstakingly interpreting Gaudí’s designs and modifying them to suit changing construction methods.
However, progress was laborious and delayed due to a lack of funds, the Spanish Civil War, and Gaudí’s plan’s intricacy.
Reasons for Delaying
Several factors cause the prolonged construction period of the Sagrada Familia:
Gaudí’s Unconventional Method: Gaudí’s dependence on on-site modifications and sparing use of comprehensive designs required a more laborious, slower building process.
Financial Dependency: The only sources of support for the Sagrada Familia are individual donations and ticket sales. Construction is inherently slower when relying on outside funding than when working on government-funded projects.
The Spanish Civil War: Some of Gaudí’s original plans were lost or destroyed during the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), significantly disrupting the construction.
Interpreting Gaudí’s Legacy: Architects interpreted Gaudí’s vision based on his models, sketches, and completed works after his death. This analytical procedure unavoidably extended the construction schedule.
Anticipated Completion Date
The Sagrada Familia’s building has advanced gradually over the past few decades despite numerous obstacles.
Technological developments have helped architects understand Gaudí’s designs and provide new methods to carry out his vision.
The completion of the Sagrada Familia’s central nave in 2010 allowed Pope Benedict XVI to dedicate the basilica, marking the most important milestone to date.
The six remaining spires are currently under construction as the most complex and iconic design components.
Given recent technological developments and fresh energy, the Sagrada Familia Foundation has established 2026 as its objective completion date.
Gaudí’s birthday this year lends a bittersweet element to the much-anticipated completion.
Measures Taken by Authorities
Several actions are taken by the Barcelona authorities, namely the Sagrada Familia Foundation, a private non-profit, to hasten the completion of the Sagrada Familia:
Focus on Fundraising
The Sagrada Familia receives all its finances from ticket sales and private donations.
The Foundation has put into practice several fundraising techniques, such as:
Ticket sales: They increased the ticket sales as a result of their improved marketing and visitor experiences, which have drawn more people and brought in more money.
Corporate sponsorships: To fund certain building components, the Foundation looks to corporations for sponsorships.
Donations from individuals: They have set up channels for people to provide money directly to the initiative.
Technological Developments
The following new technologies are useful in speeding the construction process:
Building Information Modeling (BIM): This technology makes it possible to model the basilica in three dimensions, which improves building process coordination, planning, and visualization.
Digital Fabrication: Sophisticated methods like 3D printing are employed to produce complex stone components more effectively and precisely.
Prioritizing Construction Phases
The Sagrada Familia Foundation has devised a well-defined construction schedule that prioritizes the completion of the most crucial and urgent components first.
Right now, they are mostly focused on completing the six spires that remain.
Cooperation with Specialists
The Foundation partners with engineers, architects, and stonemasons who are knowledgeable about Gaudí’s architectural style and building techniques.
This guarantees that the completed basilica stays true to Gaudí’s original design.
Public Awareness Campaigns
The Foundation actively works to raise public knowledge about the ongoing construction of the Sagrada Familia and to generate support for the project’s completion through various channels.
Contents
FAQs
1. How has the Sagrada Família’s completion timeline changed over the years?
The target date for the Sagrada Familia has changed several times throughout history.
Despite plans for an early completion, finance concerns, war, and Gaudí’s distinctive methods created delays.
2. Will the completed Sagrada Família feature any new technological innovations?
The Sagrada Familia will take advantage of current technology, including 3D printing, to produce complex elements more quickly and precisely, bringing Gaudí’s vision to life.
3. Are there any predictions for the exact year when the Sagrada Família will be completed?
The Sagrada Familia Foundation has set a completion date of 2026. This marks the 100th anniversary of architect Gaudí’s death.
4. How much of the Sagrada Família is already completed?
The construction of the Sagrada Familia is thought to be more than 70% complete.
5. Who is responsible for overseeing the completion of the Sagrada Família?
The Sagrada Familia Foundation, a private non-profit organization, oversees the fulfillment of Gaudí’s concept.
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Featured Image: Express.co.uk