Background
The La Sagrada Família is a Basilica located in Barcelona, Spain. It was designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi, and according to him, construction of the building will have taken “all his life to complete”. The La Sagrada Família was originally intended to be completed in time for the Universal Exposition in Barcelona in 1926, but construction has been slow, and it is now projected to take more than a hundred years to finish.
Relevant Data
La Sagrada Família is currently 111 years in the making, with only the Nativity façade and the Crypt having been completed. It is reported that the basilica has cost a staggering €38 million Euros in construction and restoration work, and that the City Council has invested over €20 million Euros in the project in the last fifteen years alone. Despite the delays, the project has inspired thousands of visitors each year, and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Spain.
Experts’ Perspectives
Experts have noted that the prolonged construction of the Basilica is due to a lack of funds and resources, lack of cooperation between the local council and the Church, and a lack of willpower from the architects involved in the project. Some experts have suggested that the project should have been sped up by breaking the project into parts and having different teams working on each part. These experts have argued that the La Sagrada Família should have benefited from more funds, resources and effort being invested in it, which would have enabled it to be completed much sooner.
Own Insights and Analysis
It is clear that the La Sagrada Família could have been completed sooner if the local council, Church and architects had acted together in cooperation to ensure that the project was completed on time. Unfortunately, due to a variety of reasons, this did not happen, and the project has suffered as a result. It seems that the long completion time of the La Sagrada Família can be ascribed to a lack of planning, resources, and expertise, as opposed to lack of vision for the project.
Economic Impact
The prolonged construction of the La Sagrada Família has had a major economic impact on the city of Barcelona. The City Council has had to allocate a great amount of resources to the project which could have been used elsewhere. Moreover, the long completion time has hindered the city’s progress, resulting in a slower pace of development in comparison to other cities. The prolonged construction of the La Sagrada Família has also had a negative impact on tourism, as the City Council has had to direct its attention and resources towards the project, instead of other aspects of tourism promotion.
Social Impact
The delayed construction of the La Sagrada Família has had a significant social impact on Barcelona and the surrounding region. Many people have had to wait for the completion of the project before they can access services and amenities, as the basilica’s delayed construction has hindered the city’s progress in these areas. Furthermore, many local businesses that are dependent on tourists have had to suffer as a result of the project’s delays.
Political Fallout
The prolonged construction of the La Sagrada Família has highlighted the political shortcomings of the City Council and Church. There have been numerous public spats between the two authorities over the construction of the project, leading to delays and frustration among citizens. This has also led to a lack of trust in the two authorities on some matters, due to the perceived lack of willingness to work together in an effective manner. Furthermore, the project has led to conflicts between the two sides, as they both strive to have the upper hand in how the project is managed and completed.
Environmental Impact
The prolonged nature of the La Sagrada Família project has had an environmental impact on the local area. Due to the persistence of the construction, there has been significant air pollution in the region. Furthermore, due to the nature of the construction, surrounding flora and fauna are being disturbed and disrupted, leading to a decrease in the local wildlife population. This has been a source of protest from environmentalists, who have been (unsuccessfully) trying to get the project be sped up.
