Fiberglass in architectural masterpieces: La Sagrada Familia
The idea for the La Sagrada Família Cathedral in Barcelona was conceived in the late 1800s but today it is still under construction. Thanks to technological evolution, cathedral builders are using more advanced material than they did 100 years ago, now they are using fiberglass materials.
In recent years, many elements of the cathedral have been constructed with the aid of glass fiber-reinforced composite molds and concrete. The molded structures include some of Gaudí’s most complex shapes and design concepts, such as the windows and skylights that draw natural light into this magnificent structure.
Faulí Jordim, assistant architectural director, gives three main reasons for the use of fiberglass materials:
- Versatility: the molds can be shaped as exact replicas of the most intricate shapes of Gaudí’s vision
- Durability: the composite materials can be reused several times and still keep the shape of the model, maintaining dimensional stability and surface smoothness.
- Weight: Some parts are made by precasting concrete in a factory or on the construction site, removing the fiberglass mold, then placing the part into position. However, lightweight fiberglass sheets also enable workers to form many parts on site.
Soure: Compositesworld
Image: Placesonline