What did Gaudi's original plans for Sagrada Familia look like?

Gaudi worked in 3D plaster models at 1:25 scale rather than blueprints. He used hanging chain models to design load-bearing columns.

Were Gaudi's plans for Sagrada Familia destroyed?

Yes. Anarchists burned his workshop in July 1936 during the Civil War and shattered the plaster models.

How is Sagrada Familia being built without original plans?

Architects rebuilt the broken models from photos and fragments. Modern teams use BIM software and CNC stone milling to finish faithfully.

Sagrada Familia Plans: Gaudi Models, Floor Plan, 2026 Layout

Sagrada Familia Plans: Gaudi's Vision in 1:25 Models

Last updated: 2026-04-25

Gaudi worked in 3D plaster models at 1:25 scale rather than 2D drawings. The Civil War destroyed the originals in 1936, and his successors spent 80 years rebuilding them.

Latin cross floor plan

The basilica is laid out as a Latin cross 90 metres long and 60 metres wide. The nave seats 9000 people standing 45 metres tall.

Hyperbolic and parabolic geometry

Gaudi rejected straight columns. He used branching, double-twisted columns based on hyperbolic geometry that mimic trees inside a forest.

1:25 plaster models

Rather than blueprints, Gaudi sculpted plaster models at 1:25 scale. He used hanging chain models to test load distribution upside down.

Civil War destruction

In July 1936 anarchists burned Gaudi's workshop and shattered the original models. Architects Quintana and Bonet glued the fragments back together.

Digital reconstruction

Since the 2000s teams use CNC stone milling, BIM and 3D scanning of surviving fragments. The Tower of Jesus Christ uses a steel skeleton clad in stone.

Frequently asked questions

What did Gaudi's original plans for Sagrada Familia look like?: Gaudi worked in 3D plaster models at 1:25 scale rather than blueprints. He used hanging chain models to design load-bearing columns.
Were Gaudi's plans for Sagrada Familia destroyed?: Yes. Anarchists burned his workshop in July 1936 during the Civil War and shattered the plaster models.
How is Sagrada Familia being built without original plans?: Architects rebuilt the broken models from photos and fragments. Modern teams use BIM software and CNC stone milling to finish faithfully.