Sagrada Familia - Church of the Holy Family / Sagrada Familia
northeast Barcelona
1884
Antoni Gaudí, Architect



Literally 'Sacred Family' this church is the most striking and largest of all Antoni Gaudi buildings.

Photos of building exterior - western entrance:



Sagrada Familia architect: Antoni Gaudi

Probably the most stunning piece of Spanish architecture, a wild and inventive building. Gaudi could be described as a surrealist architect and his work has some resonance with the work of Surrealist artist Salvador Dali.

Sagrada Familia uses caricatures in stone to portray the story of Christianity but its
flamboyance has made it a symbol for the city as a whole. Gaudi frequently uses organic elements on the top of his spires, shaped like cloves crossed with the crucifix they are powerfully sculptural and very distinctive. Antoni Gaudi is often bracketed as one of the key European organic architects. In the Sagrada Familia building the architect evokes nature as well as Biblical scenes: in the photos you can see many of the columns fan out like plants for example.

More images of Sagrada Familia, Barcelona:





More Sagrada Familia images available upon request:
photos 1280x1024 pixels, 72dpi

Sagrada Familia to use Scottish Stone
Stone from Clashach Quarry, Moray, is being used to complete parts of Sagrada Familia by Gaudi in Barcelona: a ceiling and a main staircase.

Sandstone from the quarry of Moray Stone Cutters has already been used in the construction of the National Museum of Scotland and the extension to the National Gallery in Edinburgh, as well as the 9/11 memorial in New York.

The contract will involve up to five tonnes of sandstone, with blocks as large as one metre cubed, being transported to Spain each month for the next two years to the temple site where construction work first began in 1882.

The quarry secured the contact after Moray Stone Cutters supplied sandstone for
work on the nearby Barcelona Cathedral in 2005
Jul2006

Key Antoni Gaudi buildings in Barcelona:

Casa Batllo
Passeig de Gracia, Eixample, Barcelona
1906
Antoni Gaudi, Architect


Casa Mila - La Pedrera
Passeig de Gracia, Eixample, Barcelona
1910
Antoni Gaudi, Architect


Park Guell
north Barcelona
1914
Antoni Gaudi, Architect




More Sagrada Familia Photos - from 1991:



The image on the left is the delicate sculpture on the eastern frontage to Sagrada Familia. The other three show the western entry with more strenuous Gaudi sculpting

Barcelona Architecture



News re Antoni Gaudi Buildings in Barcelona:
UNESCO has added four Barcelona buildings by architect Antoni Gaudi to its list
of World Heritage sites: the Nativity Façade and crypt of the Sagrada Familia,
Casa Batllo, the crypt of Colonia Güell and Casa Vicens.
Other Barcelona buildings by Antoni Gaudi - Parque Güell, Palacio Güell and Casa Mila - have been listed since 1984.

Sagrada Familia Barcelona: Photos © adrian welch

Barcelona Architects

Barcelona Cathedral



Barcelona Pavilion

Sagrada Familia - Photos

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World Architecture : e-architect - a guide to key buildings across the globe

Sagrada Familia Barcelona: - page : adrian welch / isabelle lomholt