First door of the Nativity Façade of the Sagrada Família has now been fitted

Barcelona (ACN).- On Wednesday the first door to the Façade of the Nativity of the Sagrada Família, Barcelona’s famous basilica designed by Antoni Gaudí, was finally installed. The bronze gate is inspired by nature and is full of metal leaves, flowers and insects. It is located in the ‘Portal of Charity,’ and is the creation of Japanese sculptor Etsuro Sotoo, a passionate follower of Gaudí’s career who has been collaborating in the construction of the church since 1978. At 7 metres tall by 3 metres wide, the ornate door is the first of four pieces that will be installed in this part of the temple as it is completed. The concept of the Nativity Façade is to illustrate the major events of the early life of Jesus Christ through a sculptural and ornamental design full of optimism and joy. The construction of the doors of the basilica is scheduled to be completed in 2015.

Etsuro Sotoo, Japanese sculptor and follower of Gaudí’s work , is the creative mind behind the new door. He has been collaborating in the construction of the cathedral since 1978, beginning with the restoration of the group of sculptures at the Rosary Portal and the Nativity Façade, which had been largely destroyed during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). He is now working on the doors to the Nativity Façade. Since 2005, the Nativity Façade has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

The Nativity Façade illustrates the major events of the early life of Jesus Christ in a sculptural and ornamental form, full of optimism and joy, which depicts all of creation celebrating the Nativity. The doors are designed to fit into this context and are inspired by nature. While each of the four doors will be unique, the piece installed on Wednesday is full of ivy leaves, pumpkin flowers and lily flowers, with several types of bugs depicted, such as beetles, flies, wasps, bees, grasshoppers, ladybirds, ants, spiders and dragonflies. The door's dominating colour is green, achieved from the process of corroding bronze.