The Sagrada Família Schools ( ca, Escoles de la Sagrada Família, es, Escuelas de la Sagrada Familia) building was constructed in 1909 by the modern Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí near the site of the Basílica de la Sagrada Família. It was a small school building for the children of the workers building the Sagrada Família, although other children of the neighborhood attended, especially from the underprivileged classes. The teaching was in the charge of Magin Espina Pujol, math teacher and friend of Gaudí, whose photo teaching classes are in the current school. The building has a rectangular footprint of by , and contains three classrooms, a hall, and a chapel, with lavatories in an addition to the building. The construction was done with a brick facade in three overlapping layers, following the Catalan technical tradition. Both the walls and the roof have a wavy form that gives the structure a sensation of lightness but, at the same time, great strength. On the exterior three areas intended as open-air classrooms were covered with iron pergolas. The building has been seen as an example of constructive genius and has served as a source of inspiration for many architects for its simplicity, stamina, original volume, functionality, and geometrical purity. Its undulating form has been applied by architects like Le Corbusier,

Pier Luigi Nervi Pier Luigi Nervi (21 June 1891 – 9 January 1979) was an Italian engineer and architect. He studied at the University of Bologna graduating in 1913. Nervi taught as a professor of engineering at Rome University from 1946 to 1961 and is known wor ...

Félix Candela Félix Candela Outeriño (; January 27, 1910 – December 7, 1997) was a Spanish and Mexican architect who was born in Madrid and at the age of 26, emigrated to Mexico, acquiring double nationality. He is known for his significant role ...

, and

Santiago Calatrava Santiago Calatrava Valls (born 28 July 1951) is a Spanish architect, structural engineer, sculptor and painter, particularly known for his bridges supported by single leaning pylons, and his railway stations, stadiums, and museums, whose sculp ...

History

The building was designed on the commission of the Devout of San José, created in 1866 by Josep Maria Bocabella, founder of the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia. Its principal promoter was Gil Parés, chaplain of the Sagrada Familia, who was the school's principal until 1930. At first he followed the pedagogic method of Andrés Manjón, founder of the school of Ave Maria de Granada, but from 1915 on he applied the

Montessori The Montessori method of education involves children's natural interests and activities rather than formal teaching methods. A Montessori classroom places an emphasis on hands-on learning and developing real-world skills. It emphasizes indepen ...

method. The schools were inaugurated on November 15, 1909 by the Bishop of Barcelona, Juan José Laguarda y Fenollera. It was originally located on ground destined to face the glory facade, in a site which would not be needed during the initial phases of the planned development of the Sagrada Família. The school suffered grave damage during the

Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, link ...

, during which the building was dismantled in blocks and reconstructed later. Francesc Quintana was charged with its restoration in 1936-1937 with limited funds, resulting in its collapse and the need for renewed intervention in 1943 under Quintana. In 2002, the original schools site was required for the ongoing development of the church, and the schools building was again dismantled, and transferred to the southern corner of the site, between Sardenya and Mallorca Streets.

Bibliography

* Joan Bassegoda Nonell: ''Gaudí o espacio, luz y equilibrio'', Criterio,

Madrid Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the Largest cities of the Europ ...

, 2002, . * Maria Antonietta Crippa: ''Gaudí'', Taschen, Colonia, 2007, . * María José Gómez Gimeno: ''La Sagrada Familia'', Mundo Flip Ediciones, 2006, .

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sagrada Familia schools Antoni Gaudí buildings Art Nouveau educational buildings School buildings completed in 1909 1909 establishments in Spain