2-370-079 - Samuel Magal/Sites & Photos/Heritage Images

The Sagrada Familia Temple, Barcelona, Spain, 2007. Construction of this unique temple began in 1882, and one year later Antoni Gaudi was appointed Project Director. He worked on the project for over 40 years until his death in 1926. The temple has three facades (named 'Nativity', 'Passion' and 'Glory'), each bearing four souring towers. Eight of the twelve bell towers of the facades, dedicated to the Apostles and having a height exceeding 100 metres, are already built. The four belfries awaiting construction are those of the Facade of Glory, the 170-metre central dome in honour of Jesus Christ, the Tower of the Virgin Mary (125m) and the Tower of the four Evangelists. Seen here are statues by the sculptor Josep Maria Subirachs on the Passion Facade (southwestern lateral facade). Subirachs began his work in 1987 and followed the ideas of Gaudi but not his style. The stained glass windows seen here were made by the artist Joan Vila-Grau. who symbolises specific themes (e.g. resurrection, the saints, shrines) through masses of colour. The inclined columns are branching out in the form of a tree. From a long study of models Gaudi managed to determine the inclination of the load-bearing elements (columns) in order to optimize structural behaviour by transferring the loads to the central nucleus. That way he could make the structure extremely slender.The vaulted ceiling is made of ceramic blooms and green and gold and trencadis mosaics which simulate palm leaves. The vaults enable greater thickness and more weight in the zones near the supporting pillars and open holes for light at the central points where the weight accumulated before.