Sagrada Família, an astounding Catholic church, is a must-see in Barcelona for tourists visiting Spain. It attracts over 4.5 million visitors each year. Sagrada Família's construction has remained incomplete for 135 years, making it the only unfinished building on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This majestic building was created by Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926). In honor of this brilliant Spanish architect, Huashan 1914 Creative Park in Taipei presents an exhibition to display seven architectural models of World Heritage Sites, including Sagrada Família.

Antoni Gaudi made the architectural model of Sagrada Família

Sagrada Família in Barcelona (left) and structural model of Sagrada Família’s roof at the exhibition (right)

The exhibition showcases a total of 63 architectural models, in which five of them are over three meters in height, including a classic catenary arch, a structure model of Sagrada Família's roof and columns branching out like trees. What’s so special about these models? Some of them come from the work of Antoni Gaudi himself, like the architectural model of Sagrada Família; Other models are replicas made to recreate the original pieces.

Model of Sagrada Família's column, over 12m high

Model of catenary arch

Antoni Gaudi once said, “The straight line belongs to men, the curved one to God.” Inspired by what he saw in nature, Gaudi believed that buildings should be built in curves, in its the most natural shape. Back in his time, before reinforced concrete and computers were introduced to constructions, creating curved buildings was almost mission impossible. He was being called "lunatic" for his absurd ideas. As unrealistic as it may seem, Gaudi's design philosophy was in fact based on empirical observations using architectural models for experiments. He designed so many marvellous buildings because his design philosophy and aesthetic ideas were generated from solid and indisputable logic. 

Gaudi used sandbags and chains to create a model of catenary arch in his experiment

Sagrada Família is expected to be finished by 2026

The curators of exhibition also arrange an area to popular science, where visitors get to know more about Gaudi's buildings through making mechanical models. The team also invited a group of artists to reinterpret Gaudi's buildings using different media, such as lights and shadows, interactive media and large installations. 

Sagrada Família, still under construction, is expected to be finished in 2026, 100 years after Gaudi died in 1926.

"God's Architect - Antoni Gaudi: 165 Anniversary Exhibition"

Period: 2017/7/26 - 9/17
Time: 10am - 6pm
Venue: Huashan 1914 Creative Park, East 2 buildings C-D
Admission:
Single Ticket｜NT$320
Pair ticket｜NT$580

Huashan 1914 Creative Park

Opening hours: 9:30am - 9pm
Address: 1 Bade Road Section 1, Zhongzheng district, Taipei
Enquiries: +886 2 2358 1914