Gaudi's work of genius, La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, could soon be finished

Work on one of the most famous unfinished churches in the world could soon be coming to an end. Antoni Gaudi's classic work of genius, La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, could be finished in time for the anniversary of the architect's death in 2026.

The basilica will be Europe's tallest religious building when the final phase of work on the six towers is finished in about a decade. The central Tower of Jesus Christ will be the tallest, standing at 172.5 meters or 566 feet, raising the cathedral above even the 162 meters or 531.5 foot Ulm Minster in Germany. St Peter's in Rome will still have the highest interior.

Jordi Fauli, who took over as chief architect in 2012, said at a press conference that the central tower will be an "architectural marvel" and will attract millions more visitors on top of the 3.2 million it already receives each year. The basilica has a current construction budget of 25 million Euros a year.

Known as the "cathedral of the poor", its completion nears as Gaudi, commonly described as "God's architect", is up for beatification and canonisation. It is currently just 70 per cent complete, in spite of the first stone being laid in 1882.

The Tower of Jesus Christ will have a cross at its peak. The five other nearby towers will be dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the four Apostles.

Fauli was speaking from a new chamber, a small amphitheatre 60 metres above the floor of the church. The towers will rise from above the chamber, designed to support their weight and also channel streams of beautiful sunlight inside.

Gaudi was a devout Catholic and his work on the Basilica reflects this.

He died in 1926 after being struck by a trolley, having won commissions for homes, other buildings and parks from wealthy individuals and organisations that have given Barcelona a unique style and heritage. His work also influenced unusual buildings around the world, including the O'Neill House in Beverley Hills, Los Angeles. 

Fauli said the plan is to complete most of the building in time for the 100th anniversary of Gaudi's death, although some aspects such as the decorations might need to be finished off after this. "It's difficult to predict but we can say that it will be completed by 2030, 2032," he said.