Undoubtedly, it’s one of the most instantly recognizable buildings in the world, universally recognized as one of the finest works ever created by one of the world’s finest architects… and it’s not even finished. I’m talking, of course, about Antoni Gaudi’s Sangrada Familia in Barcelona Spain.
Begun in 1882, the Sangrada Familia was designed to be Gaudi’s magnum opus, and the plans are so mind-bogglingly intricate that it isn’t hard to see why it would take so long to build. The church, which will reach a peak height of 558 feet upon the completion of its main spire, is (like so much of Gaudi’s work) designed on the principle of biomimeticism. With staircases that take their cues from conch shells, windows and gates modeled on honeycomb coral, and columns that mimic the growth patterns of plants, the Sangrada Familia is truly a sight to behold.
Interestingly, this sort of biologically inspired architecture that made Gaudi so famous is a rather prescient precursor to the modern study of the incredible efficiency of natural structures. Even today, Gaudi’s century-old natural designs are remarkably fresh and interesting; as Gaudi so famously put it, “originality is returning to the origin.. nature does not go out of fashion.”
As of this month the unfinished Sangrada Familia has officially been consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI as a basilica, and construction is scheduled to be completed in 2026.
More info HERE.
