Tabicada voults: between tradition and innovation – The Sagrada Familia of Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona

The Sagrada Familia by Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona is a unique example of architecture worldwide, not only in terms of the originality of its style. Tradition and innovation are the key elements in the realization of this magnificent work. Traditional materials and construction techniques find their place in a context where innovation and experimentation are constant. While in the early 1900s Antoni Gaudí used innovative parabolic arches and soaring towers, alongside them he incorporated the « bòveda tapicada » from Catalan tradition in a revisited form. Today, this traditional element has evolved into « tabicada armada, » a solution that employs GFRP materials for improved structural performance. A similar reinforcement technique was also used in the restoration and consolidation works of Palazzo Pica Alfieri in L’Aquila, a building damaged after the 2009 earthquake.