Antoni Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia - a beggar left for dead

The Sagrada Família is perhaps Antoni Gaudí's most famous and iconic work - located in Barcelona, Spain, it is a massive basilica that stands as a symbol of the city and is considered one of the most extraordinary examples of architecture in the world. It’s organic forms including trees, plants and animals found themselves incorporated into the structural elements of the basilica itself, in some places, seemingly defying the laws of physics. Instead, this structural wonder which began in 1882, and not due for completion until 2026 (100 years after Antoni’s death) is a marvel in light, space, colour and life.

SBA73, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

The designer and chief project manager Gaudí was known for his unconventional personality and appearance, often dressing in simple, shabby clothing, and with an unkempt appearance which sometimes led people to mistake him for a beggar. He relied less on traditional architectural blueprints and more on scale models and three-dimensional mock-ups to visualise and develop his designs - something which may prove troubling should he die 75 years before the estimated completion date.

Unfortunately Antoni Gaudí's death and the events surrounding it are indeed quite tragic. On June 7, 1926, at the age of 73, Gaudí was hit by a tram in Barcelona. He was walking near the construction site of the Sagrada Família when the accident occurred. Due to his humble appearance and disheveled clothing, Gaudí was initially mistaken for a beggar, and it took a while for the authorities to recognize him. By the time Gaudí received medical attention, his injuries were severe. He was taken to the Hospital de la Santa Creu, where he was initially refused admittance because of his unkempt appearance. Eventually, his identity was confirmed, and he was provided with a bed, but it was too late. Antoni Gaudí passed away on June 10, 1926.

Gaudí's death marked the end of an era in Catalan modernism and left the Sagrada Família unfinished. Despite his extensive work and dedication to the project, less than a quarter of the church was completed during his lifetime. However, uncharacteristically for Gaudí, he did leave behind detailed plans and models, allowing subsequent architects and craftsmen to continue his vision.