Why is the church of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona still in process of construction?

lanfranco

The design and sculptural decoration are extremely complex, and parts of Gaudi's plans and models were destroyed during the Spanish Civil War and have had to be reconstructed. I suspect, too, that there have been occasional problems with keeping the funding flowing. However, the work seems to be proceeding at a faster pace these days: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagrada_Familia Sep 29 06, 1:05 PM

UT-7	I'm speaking not about reconstruction but about construction. Sep 29 06, 1:45 PM

lanfranco

The reconstruction I referred to has to do with the architects' attempts to establish what, exactly, Gaudi had in mind, so that the construction could proceed. The issues are, obviously, rather closely related. It's worth pointing out that the church was originally expected to require some centuries to complete, largely owing to the intricacies and complications of the unique structural and sculptural designs. As the site I posted notes, for example, many of the stones must be machined separately, since they are not of uniform sizes and shapes. However, modern building techniques and the use of computer modeling mean that the church will be finished much sooner than formerly anticipated. Sep 29 06, 2:13 PM

UT-7	Try to think, please, about amount of towers! Sep 29 06, 2:18 PM

lanfranco

There are 18, but sorry, UT, but from the point of view of architects and architectural and art historians, "amount of towers" doesn't even come close to the major design and construction issues raised by the Sagrada Familia. Sep 29 06, 5:46 PM

Flynn_17

Because Barcelona was built around the church before the church could be built. Segrada is meant to be in the shape of a cross, but there is no longer any room for this cross, so they are still thinking... Sep 29 06, 6:05 PM

UT-7	After completion, the church will have 18 towers in all.18 towers will be representing the 12 Apostles, the four Evangelists, the Virgin Mary and, the tallest amongst the towers, Jesus Christ. But only after completion! Sep 29 06, 11:22 PM

peasypod

Didn't the question ask 'Why is it still in the process of construction'? Evaluating what the finished project will exhibit doesn't really answer the 'why' bit... Sep 30 06, 3:28 PM

UT-7	Why?!Because it will take N-years of construction to finish this great project of Gaudi(his idea to build the church with 18 towers) symbolizing that mentioned in my previous reply. Oct 01 06, 2:02 PM

lanfranco

UT, I'm sorry, but I don't think you know what you're talking about. Iconography and construction are very often closely related -- but you don't seem to grasp the issues in this case. The fact that the Sagrada Familia involves 18 towers is not "the" reason that the construction has been prolonged. Oct 01 06, 5:56 PM

UT-7	Of cource it will be prolonged with iconography in each of the towers but may be we need to ask the specialists in this case in Barcelona? May be partly we can see this idea in the chapter of design. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagrada_Familia Oct 01 06, 8:42 PM

lanfranco

As a professional art and architectural historian, I AM a specialist. It's my job. Oct 01 06, 9:57 PM

peasypod

The link is the exact same one Frankie gave on the first post. Now, what part of it, exactly, points out the 'why' bit, UT? Oct 01 06, 11:13 PM

UT-7	In the part on design we see "The building works are expected to be complete around 2026, the 100th anniversary of Gaudi's death." Oct 01 06, 11:30 PM