2024-03-26 05:39:33
A panoramic view of the ‘Cathedral of the Holy Family’ (Sagrada Familia), Gaudí’s greatest legacy and building. It is scheduled for completion in 2026. /Chosun DB
Barcelona’s representative building, the Cathedral of the Holy Family (Sagrada Familia), designed by Spanish architect Antonio Gaudi (1852-1926), is scheduled to be completed in 2026. It has been 144 years since the first shovel was laid in 1882 and the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death.
According to several foreign media outlets, including CNN and the Guardian, on the 25th (local time), the Holy Family Cathedral Foundation announced a new completion schedule through its recent annual report. At the same time, it was announced that all the resources necessary for completion, including the 172.5m central spire ‘Tower of Jesus Christ’, the highest height in the cathedral, were in place. When completed, the Holy Family Cathedral will become the world’s tallest church, surpassing Ulm Cathedral in Germany (161.5m).
Construction of the Holy Family Cathedral began in 1882 according to a design led by Gaudí. However, Gaudí died in 1926, and the cathedral was only regarding 15% completed at the time. Since then, the cathedral has gone through many hardships, including wars such as the Spanish Civil War, financial shortages, and in the past few years, construction has been halted for regarding two years due to the coronavirus outbreak. In addition, most of the blueprints and models drawn by Gaudi have been lost, so the building is being built based on blueprints reconstructed from the original.
It was also known that illegal construction had been carried out without a building permit for 137 years, causing controversy. However, the Barcelona City Council approved the construction of the cathedral in 2019. Nevertheless, the Cathedral of the Holy Family has become a famous tourist attraction in Spain and attracts 5 million visitors annually. In 1984, it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Meanwhile, construction of the staircase entrance to the cathedral is expected to continue until 2034. Some argue that Gaudí’s design did not include stairs. In response, Foundation President Esteve Camps explained, “There is a staircase in the blueprint signed by Gaudí in 1915 and submitted to local authorities.”
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