Barcelona Architecture: Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia is one of the most iconic buildings in Barcelona. This Roman Catholic basilica, for all its grandeur, still remains incomplete! Though unfinished, it still attracts millions of visitors every year. 

Sagrada Familia was originally started by Francisco de Paula Villar y Lozano. It was then handed off to Antoni Gaudi in 1884, who added to his already full schedule of buildings he was working on. Gaudi finished the underground crypt, which was in Villar’s original plan. At the time, this underground crypt was considered radically innovative.

Gaudi continued to work on the Basilica, giving it unusual shapes in the decor and completing the Nativity facade on the building’s east side. Unfortunately, when Gaudi died in 1926, the Sagrada Familia still remained incomplete and had been handed down from one architect to another, during which the original work by Gaudi had been lost. This gave the building a mixed fusion of grandioso style with a modern feel. The Sagrada Familia still remains unfinished as of this writing, but the plan is to have it completed by the anniversary of Gaudi’s passing, which is in 2026.

In general, Spain is known for its rich culture, where its architecture is laced with theatrical medieval decor and religious influences. Barcelona architecture is a mixture of Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque elements, giving Barcelona the title of “City with the most unique architecture.” 

One must take note that even though Barcelona architecture uses elements of Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque style of architecture, each building is unique. Barcelona also has a wide range of influences; this city contains both Modernist buildings and Gothic cathedrals. 

Depending on which city in Spain you are in, the style of architecture will change. This is to be expected since these are different buildings in different cities. Only in Barcelona architecture do you find the same building, and it’s the architect that changes.  

Perhaps the Sagrada Familia is the real reason that Barcelona was given the title of the ”City with the most unique architecture.”

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From the Factory Floor

A fixture for a hotel in Chicago…

by Gerald Olesker, CEO, ADG Lighting