Sagrada Família, arguably the most gloriously designed church in the world, is being turned into a Lego set. What took you so long, say the architecture aficionados?
The Lego Architecture Sagrada Família set is being released to honour its equally glorious architect, Antoni Gaudí, who died 100 years ago in June 1926.
Sagrada Família is an epic construction that Gaudí conceived before the building technology was invented to complete this amazing building. It began construction in 1882, and Gaudí took over as architect the following year. By the time he died, 100 years ago this month, his most iconic construction was only a quarter of the way finished.
Only once reinforced concrete was invented could Gaudí’s epic vision be completed.
With 12,060 Lego pieces, it will be the largest set ever released by the Danish toymaker.
“We felt an immense responsibility to do justice to the Sagrada Família through this design,” said Lego Architecture designer Rok Žgalin Kobe.
“Our goal was to honour Gaudí’s vision with the utmost respect, capturing the rhythm of the basilica’s construction, its extraordinary complexity and ambition, and translating that into an immersive building experience.
“This is not only the largest Lego set ever, but a model of one of the most ambitious architectural works in the world. Balancing scale and precision, while remaining faithful to a living monument that has been evolving for more than a century, was a unique design challenge – and one we’re incredibly proud of.”
How much will this cultural icon of 20th century architecture cost you?
Its international price is a whopping $800 / £650 / €750 (R13,000) so you really have to be a Gaudi fan to want it. But why wouldn’t you?
