On February 20, 2026, the final arm of the cross was lifted onto the Tower of Jesus Christ at the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, marking the completion of the cathedral’s exterior and the culmination of 144 years of construction. The cross now crowns the structure at 172.5 meters, making it the world’s tallest church. The robotic 3D printed ceramic tiles that form the tower’s white glazed ceramic skin were developed by LAMÁQUINA in collaboration with Ceramica Cumella.
LAMÁQUINA used robotic fabrication technology to produce the precision-crafted clay tiles for the cladding system. The team designed a workflow that honors the original vision of architect Antoni Gaudí while integrating 21st-century manufacturing innovation. Rather than using conventional casting or hand-finishing methods, the tiles were designed, fabricated, and optimized through code-driven processes paired with ceramic production techniques, allowing for consistent quality and structural precision across hundreds of individual components.
A new standard for architectural ceramics
The Sagrada Família’s ceramic skin represents a shift in how heritage architecture can incorporate modern fabrication methods. By combining robotic production with traditional ceramic materials, LAMÁQUINA demonstrated that digital design and automated manufacturing need not compromise the craftsmanship or longevity required for monumental construction. The tiles were engineered to withstand Barcelona’s climate and integrate seamlessly into Gaudí’s original architectural language, which relied heavily on curved surfaces, organic forms, and ceramic ornamentation.
The project brought together craftspeople, engineers, architects, and technologists across multiple generations and disciplines.
Manufacturing on Demand
History in the making
The laboratory in the basement of the Sagrada Familia has been a testbed for the most advanved architectural techniques since construction began well over a century ago. In recent past it has housed many different additive manufacturing technologies, including multiple gypsum-based binder jetting systems from 3D Systems (ZCorp) for 3D modeling, filament extrusion systems and powder bed fusion systems.
The project conducted by LAMÁQUINA, however, marks the first time that final parts are 3D printed and used in the church’s construction. The tiles are now permanently integrated into one of the world’s most recognizable structures, visible on the Barcelona skyline and documented as part of the cathedral’s official construction history.
The Sagrada Família remains under construction, with interior work continuing toward a projected completion date in the coming years.
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Author: Davide Sher
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