Spanish Parliament protesting against the construction of an underground tunnel near the Church of the Holy Family of Antonio Gaudi.

Spanish Parliament protesting against the construction of an underground tunnel next to the Church of the Holy Family of Antonio Gaudi (Antonio Gaudí) . Unfinished Gaudi creation in the style of modernism, which is a cultural heritage site by UNESCO and the main attraction in Barcelona and throughout Spain, was in the way of the builders of new high-speed railway that would connect Spain with France.

The decision to build the tunnel was made several years ago and immediately provoked protests from architects, engineers and residents of Barcelona. Nevertheless, insertion of a tunnel began in March this year. The tunnel will have one only 13 feet (3.9 meters) from the church, which, according to experts, puts the safety of the monument in jeopardy. Residents of nearby houses hung from the windows of the slogans of protest. Activists even a film about the virtual collapse of the towers of the cathedral, about how 20 tons of stone turn to dust.

Recently, the protesters had won a small victory: Spain's parliament voted to "immediately" suspension of construction, while independent experts work to develop a plan for the bypass route for the tunnel.

«The Government should reconsider its actions. The whole world sees this as a threat to the tunnel monument ", - said Joan Rigol (Joan Rigol), chairman of the company Sagrada Familia Foundation, the leading completion of the church. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2025.

The vote has no legal force, it nevertheless has serious political pressure on the socialist government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero (Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero). After the vote, the Speaker of the Ministry of Public Works of Spain said that the work will continue, but will be taken protective measures: only 7 feet (2.1 meters) from the church under the ground will be given a protective barrier. Minister of Infrastructure of Spain (Transport Minister) Jose Blanco (Jose Blanco) in his speech in Parliament explained that the development of the new route will cost the government too much and that it will delay the completion of building high-speed road connecting Spain with Europe for another two years.

«What good is democracy if the government ignores the will of the people?" - asked the following vote Vallejo Pere (Pere Vallejo), the leader of the acts of civil protest against the construction of the tunnel. The protesters are concerned about not only the fate of Gaudi's masterpiece, but the fate of those who now lives about 18 thousands of apartments that will be above the tunnel where it was built on an existing project.

Company Sagrada Familia Foundation plans to file for the sixth official complaint with the Supreme Court of Spain in the hope that a court will halt construction of the tunnel. Architects and engineers of the Church of the Holy Family fear that the underground work can move the shifting soil beneath the temple, part of the building settles, and will crack. Vibrations from passing high-speed trains can also damage the monument. According to Joan Rigolya, Gaudi built without supports. The roof of the cathedral is made in the technique trenkadis (surface coating technology pieces of ceramics or glass, irregularly shaped), so any shaking can cause serious damage to the building.

last study by the International Council on Monuments and Sites ( ICOMOS) has recognized the project with the relevant EU standards on safety. However, the Council called for an independent examination of the state of the monument and urgent negotiations between the Government of Spain and UNESCO representatives.

material prepared by Mary Onuchina, AI

Source: independent. co.uk , artinvestment.ru