Segrada Familia Research Paper

Module 7 Art History Journal ? Simpson, James

Which artwork or invention do you think had the greatest impact on today?s society?

The Segrada Familia is said to be the most spectacular building ever built by man, or should we say the most spectacular which to this day remains under construction. Located in Barcelona, Spain, this ongoing architectural wonder carries a great deal of meaning, history and impact on the future architectural outcome of the Segrada Familia. Envisioned by Anthony Gaudi, an architectural genius of his time, the church was first placed under construction some 130 years prior. To this day, the Segrada Familia, while near completion on its interior, still lives and breathes construction on its exterior face. Although

Anthony Gaudi passed on nearly a century ago, most of his plans and design ideas will be continued by the current architects and builders. Gaudi?s designs were often said to be complicated as they are advanced. While this is a great feat and very progressive architectural thoughts for the time, it certainly has and continues to present current workers on the project with challenges. The design and accompanied construction project at the church became the longest running architectural project on earth. First envisioned in 1883, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the church as a Basilica. Nearly 7000 folks gathered at the ancient ritual of consecration and while the interior was completed, the exterior fa?ade left much to be completed. It is suggested that this architectural wonder was Gaudi?s way of making a mend with God for all the sins of the modern world.
The design of the church tells its own story. Gaudi suggests that one is closest to god when they are in the Forrest and therefore he wanted the ceiling and other parts of the church to resemble a forest. The interior columns are designed to reflect that of tree limbs branching out. As we continue towards the altar, the columns seem to be built of stronger and stronger stone. In fact, the columns bearing the greatest weight are built from Red Pauper stone, believed to be from a family of the strongest known stone.

Which artwork or invention do you think is the most dramatic, and why?
With respect to creation bearing a dramatic intrigue, there remains little doubt that the Segrada Familia holds the prize. Anthony Gaudi?s unique contribution to the architectural world lies within his ability to see space in a different way. His contribution to the architectural world reinvented the world of architecture and many to this day will tell you his designs, plans and ideas were at least a century ahead of the time. Adding to the drama of the project is the fact that Gaudi, himself, knew the project would not be completed in his lifetime. Amongst other reasons, this links directly to his model making traits. Gaudi chose to build plaster models of the Segrada Familia to allow future architects the ability to see the project through as Gaudi envisions it. Gaudi was certain that without these models, the project would die prior to completion or not be constructed as he intended. Gaudi remained a man of deep faith and worked on the project every waking hour of his life beginning at the age of 35. Gaudi unfortunately was struck by a tram one day and died suddenly. Upon Gaudi?s death, a new architect by the name of Barnaby Bennet spends more time on the project than Gaudi does. Another unique and dramatic component of this church lies with a Japanese sculpture named Soto. Soto has spent nearly 35 years working within this church and expects he will likely be there the rest of his life working on additional stone sculptures that adorn Gaudi?s final masterpiece. Gaudi is said to be ?A builder of God.? For the next ten years, the plaster models will guide the future work of the church. In 1936, the Spanish-Civil War erupts and anarchists attached the Segrada Familia. Nearly all of Gaudi?s models were smashed and shattered. Many say the shattered pieces of the models are the structural DNA of the church and therefore are critical to the completion of the church. Many of the pieces were recovered and through modern technology, architects reverse engineered the models. What Gaudi was able to build in the late 1800?s took the use of the most up to date aeronautical engineering software to complete. The church project continues today and is paid for through continuing donations. To this day, teachers and professor question whether Gaudi was a pure genius or perhaps a bit crazy.

Which one do you think is the most mysterious, why?
The most mysterious would be Fallingwater.

Located in Mill Run, PA about 45 miles outside of Pittsburgh, Fallingwater is the masterpiece of Frank Lloyd Wright. Such a masterpiece in fact, the American Institute of Architects voted it the most significant building in the past 125 years. This architectural project sought out to build a house based around the concept of nature. Its beauty, charm, sound and peace were all contributing factors to this unique build. It is now known as one of the most famous 20th century homes built by someone not of royal blood. The running water from the waterfall and the ambient noise it creates lends to the unique beauty and charm of this home. Accomplishing something that had never been done, Wright built the house directly above the waterfall. Rock ledges provided the base for some of the structure while broken pieces of the ledge allowed the water to flow and fall. Wright?s imagination with this project was so thought out that the vegetation surrounding the home was notably different at the top of the falls and the bottom. The foundation and positioning of the home was placed on the Southern slope which in a calculated decision by Wright, allowed the sunlight to shine in every window and room throughout the entire

home.
Wright was certain this home needed to work the way he planned and designed it. The house was built for EJ Kaufman. Wright was nearly 70 years old when he designed Fallingwater. The house was tied to the rocks on one side and open on the other side. The house would serve as a vacation home for those who work and live in the city around the hustle and bustle. This location would serve to provide immediate nature in its natural environment. This house was so well thought out that even the windows were designed to frame the natural landscape of the trees and vegetation surrounding the property. In 1936, the construction was started and the stone work overseen by local contractors. The initial build crews took some time to get started as they were first trained to Wright?s way of thinking. Engineers involved in the project remained doubtful that the design would hold up and remained fearful that such a heavy object would be rested on only stone. Many practical problems arose throughout construction. The foundation of the home would need to extend out over the waterfall. To overcome this, a cantilever system was deployed with the utilization of beams. Additional levels of the house structure were then set on top of the beams to secure them in place. This principle was used 4 times in this project thus forming the foundation of the home. One of the beams is constructed of all stone. The other 3 are a mix of stone and concrete. The main floor was then rested on the beams. This home is constructed of four main materials. Stone, concrete, steel (to reinforce the concrete) and glass. Wright created the first casement window design in this home. Additional signs of Wrights architectural genius can be seen with his anchoring of the home to boulders. Wright also specifically designed the furniture for this home to enhance the house. The sofas cantilever from the wall. The color scheme for this house is also a product of Wrights mind and thinking. His use of warm, earth toned colors including his signature color of Cherokee Red, are found within the home. The stone walls are laid to match the stone in the surrounding area. The living room opens to the stream below and the stairway allows the acoustics for the falls below as well as provides ventilation for the home. Wright believed that people should not be burdened by things and therefore closet space in the home is at a great minimum. Ironically, to see the falls, one needs to take a short hike from the home and turn to see it. Additionally, from within the home, you could see very little other than the natural presentations around the home in the form of vegetation and such. This home truly connects landscape with nature. In 1963, Edgar Kaufman gave the home to the Western PA Conservancy as a public trust. Since then, well over one million visitors have come to witness this unique and extremely calculated project. Wright never did construct a project like Fallingwater before or after this project.

If you had the choice of living near one of the sites, which one would you choose and why?
Given the opportunity to live near one of the noted locations, I would have to say the Fallingwater. This is such a well-known piece of architecture with such a resounding architectural component to it, it would be hard not to want to be near this each day. The sounds and presentations of nature truly remain some of the things that inspire me most in this world and the opportunity to witness this incredible display of architectural genius each wondrous day can only help the continuance of the charm and wonder of this site.
If you get the opportunity to show one of these historic sites to a close friend, which one would be at the top of your list, and why?
Both Fallingwater and the Segrada Familia remain points of interest, and as most things in this class, have been added to my personal bucket list of visits. Each location brings unique history and architectural genius, yet if traveling with a friend, the likely choice is going to be the Segrada Familia. This facility, after nearly 135 years of construction, remains uncompleted. The interior, said to be at completion, tells such a story by itself. The exterior tells a different story with its nativity fa?ade, a piece of this architecture which Gaudi only partially completed while he was alive. Additionally, the bible can be found on the fa?ade etched in stone for all to see. It truly defines what the story and symbolic meanings really are.
Which would be your last choice and why?
Of all the art and architectural wonders researched, this question is perhaps the hardest compared to that of previous pieces. Both the Segrada Familia and Fallingwater offer different yet symbolic meaning to history. If forced in to a choice of my last choice, I would say the Segrada Familia. This church, filled with all its wonder and history and storytelling, to me appeals more as a tourist attraction where the Fallingwater home presents as a natural work of beauty in nature. The incorporation of nature into this architectural design truly makes this a more desirable location for a longer duration scenario.
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