Sagrada Familia: Completing Gaudi’s vision

Witness History

When visionary architect Antoni Gaudi died unexpectedly in 1926, his followers were left with incredible plaster of Paris models showing how to complete his famous church, La Sagrada Familia.

The only problem was they were smashed “to smithereens” during the Spanish Civil War.

New Zealand architect Mark Burry was part of a small team trying to piece together Gaudi’s vision for the Barcelona basilica.

He tells Vicky Farncombe about his first week in the job.

“There were literally thousands and thousands of pieces and lots of missing pieces.

“By day three, I was in despair.”

He also shares the spine-tingling moment he heard music in the church for the first time.

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(Photo: La Sagrada Familia. Credit: Getty Images)