The Holy Family It has 36 columns necessary to support the temple and provide it with the interior height, so imposing that it produces a special awe to anyone who is fortunate enough to contemplate it. And just like each and every one of the elements that make up the basilica, the columns are thought out down to the smallest detail and have their own particular symbolism.
Continuing his inspiration from nature, Gaudí imagines the columns as trees rising from the earth to the sky. and gives a special symbolism to each of them, reflecting it in each of the lanterns they support. The four pillars of the transept are dedicated to the Evangelists, 12 columns to the apostles, 4 to the Catalan bishoprics, 5 to the five continents and the remaining 15 to the different archdioceses spread throughout the Spanish cities.
To continue with a perfect proportion, raises 4 different heightsThe depths of the walls, which range from 24 to 12 m, are staggered every 4 m according to their structural importance. But… The most important thing remains: its design.
And to continue to surprise us, Gaudí could not fall into vulgarity. could not fall into the vulgarity of providing the columns of the Sagrada Familia with a normal design.No, he had to invent a geometric genius. And the rest of humanity has had to settle for trying to come up with a suitable name: The double twist columns.
Double twist columns
Gaudí arrived at this solution in a totally empirical way, and based on something that already existed, but the columns of the columns of the Sagrada Familia had to have something new, something brilliant, something unique, and that is what he did, and thanks to that, we can contemplate it today.
If we look at them carefully, we can understand how the double twist columns have been designed, we can understand how the double twist columns have been designed.. To do this, let’s imagine a perfect plaster cylinder and a wooden sheet with a central hole in the shape of a star, with its points rounded. If we insert the plate on the cylinder and slide it vertically downwards, the result is that the cylinder is marked with vertical grooves.
But, if we introduce it rotating as it descends, the result is similar to a Solomonic column, with helical grooves. And to give a Gaudinian touch, he thought of making a second turn the other way around, thus forming the double-twist column.
Although original, it was still not enough. And for that, each of the Sagrada Familia columns have a star-shaped base and end with a circular section. And to make these transitional changes, as they grow, they become narrower, achieving a fantastic feeling of slenderness and elegance.
Symbolism in the columns of the Sagrada Familia
It is well known the importance of symbolism for Gaudí in everything he designed. In this case, making the transition between its base and end sections through helical movements, The symbolism in the columns of the Sagrada Familia is based on the relationship between heaven and earth.is based on the relationship between heaven and earth.
With respect to the double twist, and taking into account that some of the columns are dedicated to the saints of the dioceses of Catalonia, they may symbolize a descent of the angels to Earth to look for the saints and take them to heaven.
The hierarchy of the columns of the Sagrada Familia
Each and every one of the columns of the Sagrada Familia are ranked according to their importance. And this is done due to the structural importance they have, differentiating themselves from each other through the points of the stars at their base, their height, their diameter and finally, in the color provided by the materials with which they are made.
The first place of this hierarchy is constituted by the 4 columns located at the corners of the transept.The lining is made of red granite porphyry. Its function is to resist the load of the tower of Jesus and part of the weight of each of the towers of the Evangelists. At its base, the section is that of a 12-pointed star, they have a total height of 24 m and their diameter is 2.10 m.
The next 8, are the ones that support the towers of the Evangelists. and are located behind the previous ones, also in the transept. The stars at its base have 10 points, their height is 20 m and they have a diameter of 1.75 m. They are coated in basalt, presenting the characteristic black color of this material.
At the next level of hierarchy, we find the columns of the nave and the apse. the columns of the nave and the apse.. Its function is to support the weight of the tower of the Virgin Mary and the dormers and vaults of the central nave and part of the loads of the side naves. Its stars are 8-pointed, and have a height of 16 m with a diameter of 1.40 m. The material chosen in this case is granite, presenting grayish colors.
Lastly, the least important are those that separate the the side naves from the central naveThey are in charge of collecting the weight of the quarries. Its stars have 6 points, are 12 m high and 1.05 m in diameter. They are made of sandstone sedimentary stone, presenting yellowish colors.
And in order to assimilate elements of nature, the columns of the columns of the Sagrada Familia The branches end in the form of tree branches, giving a total image of a lush forest. In this way, any visitor who admires the interior of the temple will have a sense of inner peace and recollection, which is necessary to communicate with our Lord.
