Sagrada Familia got 24-tonne ‘glue job’ ahead of Gaudí’s centenary as world’s tallest church

A Spanish glue company's bonds played an essential role in the binding of stone and steel for the Sagrada Familia temple's 826 panels. The world's tallest church, which was blessed by Pope Leo XVI last week, had been a century in the making. Its architect Antoni Gaudi knew exactly what the six central towers should look like, but what he did not know was that technology would play a pivotal role in the realisation of his dreams.Located in the heart of Barcelona, the monument is one of the architect's many masterpieces. His unique interpretation of Christianity, nature, geometry and the world produced a complex design that is innovative to date.From sandstone to a modern construction systemThe first stone for the construction was laid in 1882 under the direction of Francisco de Paula del Villar. A year later, it was reinterpreted by Gaudí to become a Barcelona landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gaudí began the Sagrada Família with the crypt and the apse wall, employing traditional methods: small stones and manual adjustments by stonemasons. However, in the final stage of his life, while working on the Nativity Façade, he introduced innovative materials for the time, includin...