Often mistaken for just a tourist attraction, this project is actually a living laboratory of design, structure, and craftsmanship. In this episode, we challenge conventional understanding to uncover the profound architectural insights this extraordinary building offers—both historically and in our present day.

We’ll delve into how Antoni Gaudí redefined architecture by using geometry not as mere ornamentation but as the core structural logic of the building. Inspired by natural forms like trees, bones, and shells, he introduced groundbreaking concepts such as branching, tree-like columns and the use of catenary curves—eliminating the need for traditional flying buttresses by internalizing structural forces.

We’ll also explore how each of the basilica’s façades tells a deeply symbolic theological story, transforming stone into narrative, faith into form.

This basilica is more than a building—it's a generational conversation. A vision born in 1882 continues to evolve, shaped by modern technologies like Rhinoceros, Grasshopper, and CATIA. Yet despite the digital tools, the project remains deeply human, honoring traditional craftsmanship and the irreplaceable role of the artisan's hand.

https://rileycarter-architecture.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Architecture-Sagrada-Fam%C3%ADlia-Transformed-Structures/dp/B0F9Y2359F