Sagrada Família schools

What it is

The Sagrada Família Schools building was constructed in 1909 by Antoni Gaudí near the site of the Sagrada Família basilica. It was a small school with three classrooms, a hall, and a chapel, meant for the children of the workers building the church, as well as other local children.

Why it matters

The building is admired for its structural cleverness: its walls and roof have a wavy form that makes it feel light but also strong, built using the traditional Catalan technique of layered brick. Architects including Le Corbusier admired the design and were influenced by its undulating shape. The school shows Gaudí's concern for ordinary workers' families and his ability to achieve striking design even in a simple, small building. It suffered damage during the Spanish Civil War and was later moved and rebuilt.

Look closer

• Why might Gaudí have given a school for workers' children such a carefully designed roof?
• What does the admiration of later architects like Le Corbusier tell you about this building's importance?
• How did the building change over time, and what does that history reveal?