Gaudi's Sagrada Familia church lacks construction permit

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Antoni Gaudi's Sagrada Familia church

Antoni Gaudi's Sagrada Familia church, an unfinished Barcelona landmark that is considered a marvel of modern architecture, has lacked a construction permit for more than a century, city officials acknowledged Friday.

Gaudi first presented a design for the church in 1883 and two years later suggested changes to the blueprint. Both times he won permission.

But planning officials never responded to two later requests to change the construction plans, in 1916 and 1990. The administrative silence amounted to acquiescence, a town hall official said, confirming a report in the newspaper El Pais.

"As it is an exceptional work, it goes through other channels, different from those for normal buildings," the paper quoted another city official as saying.

Gaudi, a modernist architect known for his intricate mosaics, curvy facades and nonlinear designs, is responsible for many of Barcelona's best-known buildings.

To this day, construction continues on the church, widely considered Gaudi's masterpiece, and tourists flock to it even as scaffolding obstructs much of the interior and facade. More than 2 million did so last year.

Jordi Bonet i Armengol, the architect responsible for the most recent leg of the work, would not comment on the absence of an up-to-date construction permit. A foundation overseeing the project did not respond to requests for comment.

Barcelona is considering digging an underground tunnel for a high-speed train line near one of the entrances to the church, infuriating residents of the area.