Key work on Barcelona’s Sagrada Família to be completed in 2025

Barcelona’s most iconic landmark, the unfinished Sagrada Família from Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, will enter into final construction phases for its Jesus Christ tower this year, with the Chapel of the Assumption planned for construction in 2025.

Construction first began on the Sagrada Família in 1882. The imposing and chaotic design is the masterpiece of legendary Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, who designed many of Barcelona’s most iconic sites.

When Gaudí took over the project in 1883, he transformed the project to his enigmatic style, combining Gothic and Art Nouveau forms. By the time of Gaudí’s death in 1926, the church wasn’t even a quarter finished. Due to the Spanish Civil War, construction was even further delayed.

As of 2024, the Sagrada Família is the largest unfinished Catholic Church. Architects are aiming for construction to be completely finished by 2034.

But the latest announcement from the church reveals plans to complete crucial elements of the complex 19th century design.

General Director Xavier Martínez and head architect Jordi Faulí announced that work to complete the tower of Jesus Christ, one of the most important milestones in the church’s construction, will be completed by 2025.

The final panel is expected to go on the tower in late 2024 for its 12th level before work starts on the tower’s cross pinnacle, completing the project.

The cross pinnacle will be a 17 metre-tall and 13.5 metre-wide cross clad in glass and white enamelled tiles. The ceramics include curved and pyramid pieces, and there will be windows with three layers of curved, laminated glass with ground, polished pyramids and textures.

After the tower of Jesus Christ is completed, next will be the Chapel of the Assumption. This year, work progressed on the lower ground floor and ground floor of the cloisters adjacent to the chapel. With this completed, the crane will be moved to make room for the chapel.

Four of the five sections of the roofs on the side naves on the Passion and Nativity façades have been finished. “These roofs, which were started in 2019 and stand 30 metres off the ground, collect and channel water, insulate the Basilica with a ventilated chamber like an attic, and let light in through pyramidal lanterns,” Faulí said.

Why has construction taken so long for the Sagrada Família?

The Sagrada Família project was originally led by architect Francisco de Paula del Villar. He resigned in 1883 and Gaudí was brought on to the project, becoming Architect Director in 1884.

With Gaudí at the helm, the plans for the church became increasingly complex. The amalgamation of his sui generis styles exhibited throughout Barcelona, Gaudí worked tirelessly at the project, making it his sole focus from 1915 until his death just over a decade later.

Asked about the long construction time of the church, Gaudí famously quipped: “My client is not in a hurry.”

During the Spanish Civil War, which broke out in 1936, construction of the church was paused and much of the unfinished basilica and the architect’s models were destroyed.

Throughout the 20th century, work continued slowly on the project. Sped up by the advent of computer-aided design, the 21st century has seen the church start to resemble completion.

Gaudí eccentric design includes unique features to Catholic churches, but also unique features to buildings in general. There are no exact right angles anywhere to be found on the church, and very few straight lines.

Its three façades represent unique elements of Christian theology. The east-facing Nativity façade was completed before the war and most closely resembles Gaudí’s plans. The Passion façade was completed in 1976 and follows the original plan with the addition of controversial grotesque figures of Christ during the passion, designed by Josep Maria Subirachs.

Finally, the Glory façade started construction in 2002 and is yet to be finished but will depict ascension with scenes from heaven, hell and purgatory.