'A Gothic dream reimagend: Gaudí's forest of columns'
Columns in the Sagrada Família inspired by Gothic columns
C.C. Assenberg (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
E.P.N. Schreurs – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
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Abstract
Existing studies often classify Gaudí as a modernist, this may stem from his deliberate departure from the traditional Gothic forms. This research offers a new contribution using the columns in the Sagrada Família to prove how Gaudí took inspiration from Gothic columns and thus how he relates to Gothic architectural history. While the columns are admired for their striking fusion of structure and aesthetics, their precise relationship to the Gothic tradition remains underexplored. This thesis investigates how Gothic columns inspired Gaudí’s design, raising the question: ‘How have the columns in the crossing of the Sagrada Família been inspired by Gothic columns in terms of structural techniques, building process and aesthetics?’
The thesis starts with secondary research into literature on Gothic architecture, Gaudi’s techniques and historian’s interpretations. It then moves to primary research on archival drawings, models and documentation from Barcelona, which may help to reveal hidden structural similarities or differences. Redrawing and modelling archival designs, will provide a case study with insights and makes it possible to visually compare key elements, from the Barcelona and Mallorca Cathedral with the Sagrada Família.
Gaudí’s columns are influenced by the gothic column on the building process and aesthetic design and partly in the structural techniques. The building process is very similar in many ways, for example the long building period and the many architects that are involved. The aesthetic of Gaudí’s column is very different, because of the structural innovations, than that of the Gothic column. Nonetheless, the aesthetic principles are remarkably similar, for example building the spiritual expressiveness. Gaudí was influenced by nature and geometry and used that to perfect the structural technique and aesthetic design principles. Gaudí is, as far as is known, the only one who used these revolutionary principles. Future research could explore how Gaudí’s column design principles might be adapted and applied to contemporary architectural structures.