Architects 'Betray' Antoni Gaudí Plans for Barcelona Church
The visionary architect began work on the monumental basilica 125 years ago but his untimely death beneath the wheels of a tram in the northeastern city in 1926 meant completion of his opus was entrusted to future generations.
But as construction of the bizarre structure nears the final stages - latest estimates put completion within two decades - an influential group from the artistic world claim the end result will bear little resemblance to Gaudí's vision.
More than 100 figures from Spain's art and heritage world have signed a manifesto protesting at what they see as the "betrayal" of Barcelona's most famous son by those determined to leave their own stamp on the monument.
"What stands out is the mediocrity of a group of technicians and developers who are well-meaning but full of an anachronistic paternalism in the best of cases and are once more using Gaudí to leave their personal mark on the building to the detriment of the original work," read a statement on the website of the FAD, the arts and design institute...
Read entire article at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/2557793/Architects-betray-Antoni-Gaudi-plans-for-Barcelona-church.html
But as construction of the bizarre structure nears the final stages - latest estimates put completion within two decades - an influential group from the artistic world claim the end result will bear little resemblance to Gaudí's vision.
More than 100 figures from Spain's art and heritage world have signed a manifesto protesting at what they see as the "betrayal" of Barcelona's most famous son by those determined to leave their own stamp on the monument.
"What stands out is the mediocrity of a group of technicians and developers who are well-meaning but full of an anachronistic paternalism in the best of cases and are once more using Gaudí to leave their personal mark on the building to the detriment of the original work," read a statement on the website of the FAD, the arts and design institute...