Sagrada Familia opens new phase: Architects estimate 10 more years of work

Despite the recent inauguration of the towering Jesus Christ spire and the consecration by Pope Leo XIV, architects overseeing the Sagrada Familia's construction in Barcelona caution that the basilica is far from complete. While the central towers are nearing their final form, they estimate that work will continue for at least another decade.

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I read headlines saying the Sagrada Familia will be completed. The truth is that the central towers will be completed, but besides that, there are still many other challenges ahead.

Mauricio Cortés, a Mexican architect involved in the project, stated in an interview with Dezeen that while headlines might suggest imminent completion, only the central towers are being finished. He emphasized that numerous other challenges lie ahead, with the main Glory Facade presenting the most significant hurdle. Cortés indicated that constructing the necessary underground structures for this facade alone could take approximately 10 years, though a definitive schedule has not yet been established.

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The biggest is the Glory Facade. First, several levels of underground construction need to be built to make it all possible.

Jordi Faulí, the chief architect directing the Sagrada Familia since 2012, confirmed these timelines in discussions with the Spanish service Cope. He recalled that a fire in 1936 destroyed some of the original plans, but surviving models and documentation have been crucial for continuing the work according to Antoni Gaudí's vision. Gaudí, who died in 1926, was aware that he would not see the completion of his magnum opus, a project that has spanned five generations of builders.

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This could take 10 years, but we do not have a set schedule yet.

Cortés further elaborated that beyond the Glory Facade, several other elements require completion, including various chapels, the baptistery, and numerous roofs. He suggested that the remaining work could occupy builders for two more generations. However, he also noted that modern technologies are accelerating the process, making it feasible to realize Gaudí's more ambitious designs that were previously considered impractical.

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In 1936, part of the basilica's plans burned in a fire, but the models survived. It is thanks to them, as well as documentation that escaped the fire, that it has been possible to continue the construction of the church, in accordance with Gaudí's concept.