Stone has been and continues to be the main construction material for the architecture of the Sagrada Família. This is how Gaudí wanted it, and this is how it has been for more than 130 years. In previous blog posts, we’ve looked at the international provenance of the stone at the Basilica, necessitated by the …
Stone is the main architectural element of the Sagrada Família, and it has been since construction began under the oversight of the Temple’s first architect, Francisco de Paula del Villar. When Gaudí took over the project in 1883, stone was still the primary material used. At that time, the stone came from Montjuïc, the mountain …
Continue reading » “Les Borges Blanques, Sagrada Família’s kilometre zero”
The mountain of Montjuïc is an important part of Barcelona’s unique skyline. The Romans called it Montem Iovis (mount Jupiter) but its use as a Jewish cemetery for centuries could also have influenced its name. The stone found there has been used for construction since the time of the Iberians and was very important during …
Continue reading » “Montjuïc stone: from extraction to recycling”
Like most historical buildings in Barcelona, the Basilica of the Sagrada Família was originally designed to be built mostly with the most suitable stone available, in terms of proximity, strength and resistance to weathering. Chosen, in other words, for its durability. And all of these requirements were met by what is known as Montjuïc stone, …
Continue reading » “Where do the stones being used to build the Sagrada Família come from?”
