Evolution of the formwork used in the temple of the Sagrada Familia

Abstract

The Sagrada Família is Gaudi's unfinished work, to which he exclusively dedicated his last years of life. Even though he only got to build a small part of the total, he defined the rest through models and photographs. Gaudi's design for the inside of the Temple was based on a new geometric architecture that made extensive use of ruled surfaces (paraboloids, hyperboloids, ellipsoids), opening a new field which later architects have followed. The following article aims at showing the construction complexity of these structures, especially in relation to the set-up of their formwork. The vaults, which cover the naves at 30, 45, and 60 m heights, will be discussed. This discussion will show how the construction method, and in consequence the formwork, is adapted to the construction needs according to the geometric shape, size, position, material, and repetitions of each vault.