A restorer of the Sagrada Família: “The star may be a shock, everything helps”

A artificial star lights up From this Wednesday the city and many people attended the official ignition, aware of the historical moment that they were about to see with their own eyes. “I could have followed him comfortably from home but it’s not the same,” he explains. Neus Céspedes, a 74-year-old retiree, with a smile that goes through her mask.

She is a neighbor of the Clot but her walks usually surround the pharaonic work projected by Antoni Gaudí. This time his two children are with him, but he misses someone else. “I would love to see the ignition with my husband, who was also in love with the Sagrada Família, always following their progress. She left us three years ago & rdquor ;, recalls a proud neighbor of her city and its charms. “I like the atmosphere around here, although sometimes you can’t walk and it’s a bit cramped & rdquor ;, Céspedes points out.

Among the people who are patiently waiting for the start-up, which was finally delayed by just 10 minutes, there is also Paquita Herrera, 76 years old, neighbor of the neighborhood and proud to live next to the main tourist attraction of her city. “I am in love with Gaudí’s work and I have come expressly to see the illuminated star with my son and daughter-in-law. The tower has been beautiful. Too bad I don’t think I can see the Sagrada Família finished & rdquor ;, laments this pensioner.

One might think that this work began to be built without really thinking about its end, as a living project, in constant movement. Some as Patrick Sorensen, Also present during the inauguration of the star, they thus understand the endless history of the Sagrada Familia. “Gaudí’s original intention does not interest me as much as the evolution of this work. It seems to me that the new parts fit perfectly & rdquor;says this American interested in art who has lived in the Catalan capital for four years.

The Sagrada Família continues to grow, especially at the top, and the ‘skyline’ of the city of Barcelona has already changed, even slightly with this shiny 12-point structure. Some hope it serves as a claim. This is the case of commercial establishments in the area, very affected by the pandemic crisis. “The star may be a shock, because everything helps, I don’t know. I have to think like this, be optimistic, I have no other choice & rdquor ;, he maintains Joaquin Gimeno, director of the Els Porxos restaurant, located at 140 calle de Mallorca, next to the temple. As he says this the dining room is empty and a part of its workers, in erte. “Before we worked a lot with Asian tourists – continues Gimeno – also with older people who came in groups from the Imserso. We have not returned to normality but it seems that the economy is beginning to move & rdquor ;.

On the dark side

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Gimeno has been in charge of the restaurant for two decades and right now the thing that least takes away his sleep is a hypothetical expropriation to build a monumental staircase. “If that happens I don’t think I’ll see it & rdquor ;, confides the restorer, skeptical when he says that this was the will of the genius of modernism and totally pragmatic: “Why another stairway if you already have two? & Rdquor ;.

Manuel B., a resident of 414, is not very concerned, despite the damage. “Everything will continue the same in these blocks because no municipal government has the balls to expropriate a thousand families to create something without urban use such as an avenue & rdquor ;, he assures. He bought the apartment 20 years ago and assures that if he tried to sell it now, he would lose a lot of money. “Many of us are lifelong neighbors but there are also some tourist flat because I suppose it is not worth selling right now & rdquor ;, adds this architect, to whom the star gives more or less the same. The temple, like that in general, too. And it is that the star does not shine with the same intensity for all.