While in India a few months ago I had a chance to visit the remarkable Hindu temple, Akshardham. Akshardham is an interesting temple in that it not only boasts some of the most magnificent sculptures and detailing seen anywhere, but it was also built in less than 5 years and constructed using methods that date back thousands of years. In fact, the entire temple is built without the use of steel nor concrete. Akshardham officially opened in 2005.


It was then that I pondered the construction of another temple, La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. This church also lays claim to an outstanding level of detail and yet it has been under constuction since 1882 and is not expected to be complete until 2026.


Though both edifices are host to an impressive level of detail, how is it that Akshardham was completed in a fraction of the time compared with La Sagrada Familia?




To give readers a quick glimpse at the intricacies, here I present a few photos of each monument.



Sagrada Familia


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/3044840024_f07f5124ab_b.jpg

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurapadgett/3044840024/



http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3130/2632575900_d245310d3d_b.jpg

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25767209@N02/2632575900/



http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2349/2038911306_b546e2978b_o.jpg

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuga7/2038911306/



http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2331/2476204858_0c97ddaf43_b.jpg

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_boucher/1678892845/



http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3345/3329849356_7edc271c4c_b.jpg

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carreon/3329849356/


Akshardham


http://www.akshardham.com/photogallery/mandir/photo/akshardham03f.jpg


http://www.akshardham.com/photogallery/mandir/photo/dom16f.jpg


http://www.akshardham.com/photogallery/mandir/photo/mandovar02f.jpg


http://www.akshardham.com/photogallery/mandir/photo/pillar03f.jpg


http://www.akshardham.com/photogallery/mandir/photo/elephant07f.jpg


http://www.akshardham.com/photogallery/mandir/photo/panal07f.jpg


http://www.akshardham.com/photogallery/mandir/photo/pillar11f.jpg


Akshardham Photos Source: http://www.akshardham.com/photogallery/mandir/index.htm

I think that's beacause few engineers and architects can understand Gaudi's plans and some of them got lost.

because la sagrada familia its funded only by donations...

Apart from the reasons above, it has really no space to grow as it is surrounded by buildings, while on Gaudi's plans the Expiatory Temple was supposed to have a broad avenue which would lead to its front facade.

I know that there are always cranes around it, but I never knew why.

Construction started in 1882 and is expected to end in 2026 :nuts:. But then old parts have to be renovated. So it may never be ready.

I know that there are always cranes around it, but I never knew why.

Construction started in 1882 and is expected to end in 2026 :nuts:. But then old parts have to be renovated. So it may never be ready.

There are always cranes around it because they are building the temple, logical. The old parts don't have to be renovated! And for example, the ineterior will be finished the next year. The temple will have 18 towers and now the temple have only 8. But will be finished in 2026, no doubt. I live next to the temple and I know it, not like you. "So it may never be ready" Please, if you don't know, you dont have to invent.

It's quite logical that I didn't knew why there where always cranes around it, because they are there for over 100 years ;)

Some reasons are that cranes have no space to work, so their movements have to be really precise and careful.
The temple is open tu public at the same time they are working on it.
It's an expiatory temple, that means it's made only with particular donations.
Gaudi's work has to be interpreted, and it's polemic how to continue the work.
In Gaudi's style is really important the sculpture and handmade arts.

European cathedrals generally always took centuries to build. That what makes them so interesting. The clash of styles through the time. In some ways the same happens here where the original plans were lost in the Spanish civil war.

Even with new techniques it will take ages. I can't think of the moment it's finished and neither can tourists;).

I don't think money is an issue considering the huge amounts of visitors.

Whats the problem with that? Notre Damn took 250 years to build, many other cathedrals took centuries. Its not like the technology hasn't evolved or anything, on the contrary. Quoting Gaudi himself, "My client is not in a hurry."

@Ribarca - I thought the original plans where lost in a big fire in Barcelona?

Quality takes time, as simple as it is.

Whats the problem with that? Notre Damn took 250 years to build, many other cathedrals took centuries. Its not like the technology hasn't evolved or anything, on the contrary. Quoting Gaudi himself, "My client is not in a hurry."

There is more at hand, and things are more complicated. The Propylae of Athens –the entrance to the Akropolis were build in three years, Erechtyon took I believe four years and it took the city almost ten years (!) to build the Parthenon. The modern Greek government is restoring these three buildings since WWII and this restoration with international Unesco funding will probabely last as long as Greece will exist. Some architecture is well beyond our comprehension so get used to it that it will stay in subsidized ruins...

Almost evry cladding stone is different, and since they use CNC stone cutting tools, they progress faster then Gaudi planned.
I see no reason, why it cant be finished in 2026. There is no connection between restoration of 2500 year old building and finishing one started "only" 120 years ago. And as one said, it is really interesting to see how are they trying to continue with Gaudi's legacy and still put some new ideas into building. In old times masons adapt original planes as they build and gothic cathedrals are my favorite.
To see Sagrada Famillia finished is my first reason i ll visit Barcelona again for sure.

There is more at hand, and things are more complicated. The Propylae of Athens –the entrance to the Akropolis were build in three years, Erechtyon took I believe four years and it took the city almost ten years (!) to build the Parthenon. The modern Greek government is restoring these three buildings since WWII and this restoration with international Unesco funding will probabely last as long as Greece will exist. Some architecture is well beyond our comprehension so get used to it that it will stay in subsidized ruins...

First of all your answer is irrelevant and so random it caught me out of guard.
Second, Acropolis restoration is funded from the Greek Ministry of Culture and not from Unesco. Although the largest part will be finished by 2020-2025, its still a roughly 2.430 years old monument and not a cathedral U/C and therefore it will continue to be restored and preserved constantly, hopefully for another 2,5 millennia.

Whats the problem with that? Notre Damn took 250 years to build, many other cathedrals took centuries. Its not like the technology hasn't evolved or anything, on the contrary. Quoting Gaudi himself, "My client is not in a hurry."

I like that quote very much!

i think, LA SAGRADA FAMILIA, is not a building or a cathedral, thats secondary, LA SAGRADA FAMILIA is a big sculture, a big art work, and not a simple building that would get old fashioned soon, like the modern architecture.

Maybe I'm not glad enough of living next to this wonderful temple. It's amazing how you love it. I was baptized in the Sagrada Familia.

i think, LA SAGRADA FAMILIA, is not a building or a cathedral, thats secondary, LA SAGRADA FAMILIA is a big sculture, a big art work, and not a simple building that would get old fashioned soon, like the modern architecture.

exactly! it is an art more than anything else.

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Sin palabras...

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:)

This is the number one reason why Barcelona is one of the best tourist spot in Spain. Barcelona having so many attractions and being one of the top places to visit in Europe, is not only a place for couples, friends and so on yet this city is also a family friendly city, there are places that you can take your children with you. There activities and places in the city where you can take your children and let them experience and enjoy at the same time a family day together with you in this Spanish city. If one wants to travel to Spain, you can stay at cheap Barcelona hotels (http://www.gobarcelona.biz) or at a vacation home. Either way, visitors experience a very relaxing kind of vacation here in Spain.

I wanna go to Barcelona!!!

I was there about 2 weeks ago :)

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how is it that Akshardham was completed in a fraction of the time compared with La Sagrada Familia?[/B]



Akshardham employed thousands of workers, around 10,000 as a matter of fact. Its a work of monumental proportions no doubt, but the scale of manpower involved is completely different.

La Sagrada Familia depends on interpreting the ideas of the original architect, and I'm quite sure that most of the time is spent debating how to execute the the most minute details.

i think, LA SAGRADA FAMILIA, is not a building or a cathedral, thats secondary, LA SAGRADA FAMILIA is a big sculture, a big art work, and not a simple building that would get old fashioned soon, like the modern architecture.

Even hindu temples are conceived as sculptures rather than buildings. Infact, a lot of temples are carved out of single rocks:

^^ you guys are right :cheers:

I just came back from Barcelona. I had not visited the temple for a while but the advances are massive in recent times.

The temple is a piece of holy art. But it will be a massive place for worshippers as well. It can hold a choir of a few thousand to start with.

It is vital that some of the buildings around it will be torn down. To start with the gas station that's near...

Besides, the Spanish have nothing to prove, so they are in no hurry.

OTOH, Akshardham makes a big statement - its built to represent the achievements of Indian civilization, they obviously wanted to prove their efficiency as well.

It's a highly complex structure to build. Its forest of columns has to support the central tower which will be much taller and wider than the current ones.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zcQQcfuOYUw/SDn8tV1S3hI/AAAAAAAABj8/85LMJGwNZuc/s400/La+Sagrada+Familia.jpg

^^
It´s great !!!

Regards.

i hope its finished & i can see it before i die...

All the construction workers must be Italian.

All the construction workers must be Italian.

:? :dunno:

Hi guys:

In México there is a sanctuary of the Virgen Maria and the first stone was put on the year of 1898. This was in that year:

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/7653/catedralinconclusa002.jpg

After 102 years in the 2000 the sanctuary was just like in the photo be cause many wars, the goverment, etc. (with doors and altars, you know all things of a church)

Now this is the sanctuary:

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/562/santuariodeguadalupemex.jpg

after 111 years...

so why so hurry that end the Sagrada Familia?? like some people say in this thread many cathedrals has took hundreds of years to be completed. just be patient. Greetings :)

Wooo.. muy lindo

This one is by far the most beautiful catholic temple on Earth

Gaudi was a genius!

because la sagrada familia its funded only by donations...

^^ Same as the Basílica del Voto Nacional, in Quito!!!... More than 100 years under construction.

^^ Same as the Basílica del Voto Nacional, in Quito!!!... More than 100 years under construction.

I wouldn't mind checking that one out as well.