If only the title of this post were entirely true. The Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona is known for a couple things: the first is that it is the most grandiose project ever attempted by master architect Antoni Gaudí, the second is that after nearly 130-years it’s still not finished. Generations have lived and died since the start of this project. For comparison, the ancient Egyptians could have built nearly seven pyramids in the time it’s taken us to build this one half-finished church. If we’re lucky, we’ll see the place completed around 2025.
But we can pretend, can’t we? Thank heaven for computer animation. The church’s official YouTube account posted a video a few years ago that shows the church being rendered in a little more than 90 seconds. Excuse our bad joke, but the speed at which this building takes shape is almost blasphemous, given its history.
The audacity of that animation needs a little context to be appreciated. We found a clip from 60 Minutes that goes deeper into the building. The report delves into Gaudí’s genius, vision, (madness? possibly) and piety with relation to the Sagrada Familia.
If the church was to be penance for humanity’s sins, then maybe Gaudí was paying God back with interest. In any case, it’ll go down as one of the most extravagant examples of faith in human history. We hope we’ll still be alive for the ribbon cutting.
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Interestingly architecture is one of the only art forms that goes through its entire process of making never hidden from the public. It has to suffer criticism every step of the way and be exposed to scrutiny in its most intimate and sometimes ugly moments. Something I’m sure most artists would hate to have to live through. However Gaudi has managed to turn even this ugly duckling moment into a beautiful spectacle. It is a privilege to be able to experience the soul of this awe inspiring work. We could never understand the Sagrada Familia in the same way had we not watched the layers being applied one on the other.
The time lapse video is sensational. I visited the Sagrada Familia one month ago – everyone has to visit this place at least once in their life..totally awe inspiring.
ONE OF THE MOST AWE INSPIRING STRUCTURES IN THE WORLD , FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME UNTIL NOW, INCLUDING CHINA AND AU BUDABI
I almost cried.