GoKawiilSagrada Família's main spire completed, prompting renewed look at Art Nouveau's legacy
Construction on the Sagrada Família's main spire finished this February, 144 years after work began and a century after architect Antoni Gaudí's death, making it the tallest church in the world. The building, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005, blends Gothic influences with Modernisme, the Catalan strand of Art Nouveau, and remains incomplete pending a third façade that will require demolishing nearby apartment blocks.
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The milestone has renewed public and social-media interest in Gaudí's work and Art Nouveau architecture more broadly, drawing tourists to related sites like Park Güell, Casa Batlló and the Palau de la Música Catalana. The completion also raises a broader cultural question the piece explores: why the distinctive aesthetic of Art Nouveau, despite its enduring popularity, never became the dominant style of the built environment.
- The Sagrada Família's main spire was completed in February, 144 years after construction began.
- It is now the tallest church in the world and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005.
- The building remains unfinished, with a third façade still requiring demolition of nearby apartment blocks.
Gaudí's Sagrada Família (Rizzoli book) — This lavishly illustrated book dives deep into Gaudí's masterpiece, tracing its Art Nouveau and Gothic-inspired design through detailed photography and history. It's a perfect way to explore the building's trencadís mosaics, tree-like columns, and ornate façades described in the article from the comfort of your home.
See Gaudí's Sagrada Família (Rizzoli book) on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: asteriskmag.com — Ken Liu, 2026-11-02
Published there as: “Why Don't We Live in an Art Nouveau World?”
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