Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.The Sagrada Famlia remains a major tourist attraction even though its still under construction. Its work in progress nature is precisely one of its most distinctive and appealing aspects, drawing visitors worldwide who are eager to witness its ongoing evolution. In 2024, the Sagrada Famlia achieved a record 4,833,658 visitors, the highest number to date.Although the basilica is unfinished, it has been recognized for its architectural and cultural significance. In 2005, UNESCO designated the Nativity faade and the Crypt, parts completed by Gaud before he died in 1926, as World Heritage sites.Over time, construction has faced numerous challenges, including the devastation of Gauds workshop during the Spanish Civil War, political and economic instability, and, more recently, delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these challenges, advancements in modern technology have accelerated construction in recent decades, making the 2026 completion goal attainable.Aerial view of the Sagrada Famlia. Barcelona, Spain. | Photo by Archie McNicol via Pexels.1. After over 140 years of construction, the Sagrada Famlia remains unfinished. Its complex design and reliance on private donations contribute to the extended timeline. It is expected to be completed in 2026, marking 100 years since Gauds death.2. During the Spanish Civil War (19361939), anarchist militias set fire to Gauds workshop, destroying original drawings, models and design plans, making it difficult for future architects to interpret and continue his vision. After the war, architects had to painstakingly reconstruct Gauds designs using surviving photographs, sketches and model fragments, striving to remain faithful to Gauds vision while interpreting missing details.3. Antoni Gaud initially used siliceous sandstone from Barcelonas Montjuc hill for the Sagrada Famlia. However, as the quarries quickly became depleted, alternative sources became necessary. Nowadays, stone is sourced from other Spanish regions, such as Galicia and Cantabria, and from other countries, including England, Scotland and France.Left: Angels Nativity Facade Sagrada Famlia Barcelona 2014, Photo by Jos Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro via Wikipedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0 | Right: Passion Faade (Sagrada Familia West Facade 4) by Wiki ktulu via Wikipedia Commons, CC BY 3.04. The Sagrada Famlias Nativity and Passion faades, depicting different aspects of Christs life, present a striking contrast in style.The Nativity Faade was designed mainly by Gaud. It is heavily decorated and highly organic, celebrating Christs birth. Its elaborate carvings feature natural motifs, including plants, animals, and flowing forms, symbolizing life and creation.In contrast, the Passion Faade, designed by sculptor Josep Maria Subirachs, features a stark, skeletal design symbolizing Christs suffering and crucifixion.5. Gauds design for the Sagrada Famlia embodies his belief that nature is the ultimate inspiration, integrating organic structure and ornamentation. For instance, the basilicas interior columns branch out like trees to support the vaulted ceiling, evoking a forest canopy. Also, visitors can discover intricately carved plants and animals, including turtles at the base of columns, eagles, lions and other natural motifs throughout the building.Sagrada Famlias arboriform columns. Barcelona, Spain. | Photo via PxHere.6. Gaud engineered a self-supporting structure using hyperboloid and paraboloid columns. This technique eliminated the need for traditional buttresses. Today, the basilicas construction continues to honor his vision by blending traditional craftsmanship with modern technologies like prefabrication, prestressed stone panels and parametric design tools.7. Traditional techniques remain central to the Sagrada Famlias construction. Skilled stonemasons hand-carve sculptures, timbrel Catalan vaulting enhances structural integrity and trencads mosaic decorates surfaces. These techniques complement modern technologies (beginning with aeronautic softwares in the early 1990s and later embracing parametric design) balancing tradition with innovation to preserve authenticity while accelerating construction.8. When completed, the basilica will have 18 towers, representing the 12 apostles, 4 evangelists, the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ.Twelve Apostles towers: These towers range from 98.5 to 120 meters (approximately 323.16 to 393.70 feet) in height. They are positioned in groups of four on each of the three faades: Nativity, Passion, and Glory (main faade).Four Evangelist Towers: They stand at 135 meters (approximately 443 feet) tall, making them the third tallest structures within the basilica. These towers encircle the central Jesus Christ tower. Dedicated to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, each tower is crowned with a tetramorph: a man (Matthew), a lion (Mark), an ox (Luke), and an eagle (John). Virgin Mary Tower: This tower, standing at 138 meters (approximately 452.76 feet), is topped with a twelve-pointed star, symbolizing the morning star.Jesus Christ Central Tower: Upon completion, this will be the tallest of all, reaching 172.5 meters ( approximately 565.94 feet), surpassing the current tallest church, Ulm Minster in Germany, which stands at 161.5 meters (530 feet). It will be surmounted by a four-armed cross, designed to serve as a viewing platform, offering panoramic views of Barcelona.Renovation of two cloisters in the Sagrada Famlia Basilica by COMA Arquitectura. Barcelona, Spain. Interior view (top); floor plan and section (bottom) | Photo by Fundaci Junta Constructora del Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia.9. Some temporary spaces have been designed to accommodate the large influx of tourists, even though they were not part of the original plans. Once the construction is completed, these areas will revert to their original uses. For instance, Gaud originally designed two cloisters as ambulatory spaces connecting the Nativity Faade and the Passion Faade to the sacristies at the corners of the basilica. These cloisters were intended to serve as meditative pathways, providing circulation and acoustic separation from the city. However, they have been repurposed as multi-purpose spaces for visitor services and other temporary functions during construction.10. A controversial aspect of the Sagrada Famlias original design is its grand plaza, intended to provide a monumental approach to the basilica. However, when Gaud developed this scheme in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Barcelona was not as densely built as it is today.Numerous residential and commercial buildings occupy the site originally intended for the grand plaza leading to the Sagrada Famlias main entrance. Implementing Gauds vision would require demolishing several properties, which has sparked significant opposition from residents. Moreover, the plaza would need to be constructed above Mallorca Street, a major traffic thoroughfare, further complicating the project.Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.Top image via PEXELS.The post 10 Facts About Barcelonas Soon-To-Be-Completed Sagrada Famlia appeared first on Journal.