Licht Kunst Licht light the crown of the Sagrada Família
(Spain) – On 10 June, the world witnessed a historic milestone as the newly completed Jesus Tower of the Sagrada Família was illuminated for the first time. More than a century after its conception, Antoni Gaudí’s long-envisioned masterpiece is finally complete. The inauguration and blessing of the tower by Pope Leo XIV, attended by members of the Spanish Royal Family, was celebrated by hundreds of thousands gathered around the basilica and millions watching worldwide.
For the lighting designers, Licht Kunst Licht (LKL), the illumination of the cross crowning the Jesus Tower represented both a privilege and a profound responsibility. The design responds to the spiritual, architectural, and global significance of the Sagrada Família while honouring the generations of makers who contributed to its fulfilment.
The lighting design, developed by LKL in 2019, considers the basilica as a unified symbolic composition. Reflecting Gaudí’s vision and the hierarchy of the temple’s 18 towers, the lighting gradually guides the eye upward from the Apostles’ and Evangelists’ towers to the illuminated star of the Virgin Mary and finally to the central Jesus Tower. As the tallest religious structure in the world, the tower now completes the silhouette envisioned by Gaudí.
Extensive research into Gaudí’s writings and architectural symbolism shaped the concept. Rather than relying on brightness alone, the design employs darkness and contrast to emphasise the tower’s presence within Barcelona’s skyline. Light emerges from the architecture itself, reflecting Gaudí’s belief that illumination should be an integral part of the building’s spiritual expression.
Realising this vision required years of development and close collaboration with the Sagrada Família team. More than 20 on-site lighting tests, as well as physical models, simulations, and detailed calculations, ensured a precise and coherent appearance of the monumental cross from viewpoints across the city. Custom-developed optics carefully coordinated lighting positions, and warm 3000K illumination enhances the stone’s materiality while preserving the sculptural depth and legibility of the architecture.
Beyond illuminating the cross itself, the design also incorporates a feature directly rooted in Gaudí’s vision for the Jesus Tower. He conceived it not only as an illuminated landmark above the basilica, but also as a source of symbolic light radiating into the city. Narrow-beam projectors integrated into the cross can project four beams of light into the night sky above Barcelona on special occasions, transforming one of the architect’s most ambitious ideas into reality.