Self-compacting concrete in the Temple of Sagrada Familia

The Temple of Sagrada Familia presents singularities in terms of both the original design by architect Antoni Gaudi and the duration of the construction, which started more than 120 years ago. In fact, its design was conceived before the development of reinforced concrete. Therefore, the construction materials and processes have evolved to adapt new technologies without compromising the vision of Gaudi. This willingness to maintain the original designs has obliged the technicians to resolve details that were not defined in the project, including the issue of how to cast elements at great heights and with a high amount of reinforcement. In this context, the possibility of using self-compacting concrete (SCC) emerged. This paper describes the different experiences in the Temple of Sagrada Familia with SCC, from requirements that led to using this material to the design of the mixes and the casting of the elements in situ.