Sagrada Familia - Barcelona, Spain
N 41° 24.185 E 002° 10.415
31T E 430921 N 4583833
When the Sagrada Familia is finished it will have 18 towers: 12 dedicated to the apostles, 4 to the evangelists, one to Jesus and another to Mary. Currently there are 8 towers, of which 4 were completed in 1926.
Waymark Code: WMD7N8
Location: Cataluña, Spain
Date Posted: 12/01/2011
Views: 78
Basílica y Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia), commonly known as the Sagrada Família, is a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926). Although incomplete, the church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in November 2010 was consecrated and proclaimed a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI.
Though construction of Sagrada Família had commenced in 1882, Gaudí became involved in 1883, taking over the project and transforming it with his architectural and engineering style—combining Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms.
Gaudí devoted his last years to the project and at the time of his death in 1926, He lived to see the first four bell towers completed. Sagrada Família's construction progressed slowly as it relied on private donations and was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War—only to resume intermittent progress in the 1950s. Construction passed the mid-point in 2010 with some of the project's greatest challenges remaining and an anticipated completion date of 2026 the centennial of Gaudí's death.
Newly constructed stonework at the Sagrada Família is clearly visible against the stained and weathered older sections.
On the subject of the extremely long construction period, Gaudí is said to have remarked, "My client is not in a hurry." When Gaudí died in 1926, the basilica was between 15 and 25 per cent complete. After Gaudí's death, work continued under the direction of Domènec Sugrañes i Gras until interrupted by the Spanish Civil War in 1936. Parts of the unfinished basilica and Gaudí's models and workshop were destroyed during the war by Catalan anarchists. The present design is based on reconstructed versions of the lost plans as well as on modern adaptations. Since 1940 the architects Francesc Quintana, Isidre Puig Boada, Lluís Bonet i Gari and Francesc Cardoner have carried on the work. The illumination was designed by Carles Buigas. The current director and son of Lluís Bonet, Jordi Bonet i Armengol, has been introducing computers into the design and construction process since the 1980s. Mark Burry of New Zealand serves as Executive Architect and Researcher. Sculptures by J. Busquets, Etsuro Sotoo and the controversial Josep Subirachs decorate the fantastical façades.
The central nave vaulting was completed in 2000 & the roof closed in 2008, and the main tasks since then have been the construction of the transept vaults and apse. Currently work concentrated on the crossing and supporting structure for the main tower of Jesus Christ which will rise to 560 feet as well as the southern enclosure of the central nave, which will become the Glory façade.
Information gained from a visit to the Museum under the Church, a ride up one of the bell towers, and an Internet Sources :-
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visit link)
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visit link)
Address of Tower:
Basílica y Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia
Carrer de Sardenya
Barcelona , Catalonia Spain