(Written by William)
When I initially heard about the #21065 LEGO Architecture Sagrada Familia, I wasn’t quite prepared for its size. Boasting a whopping 12,060 parts, this is the largest LEGO Architecture set I’ve ever built. LEGO offered us this monumental creation for early review, and I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity. Of course, before we begin, I want to be very clear about who this set is not for, or, more specifically, who might not find it worth the price.
Speaking of price, those who are budget-conscious will probably hit the brakes at the $799.99 price tag. I was not kidding when I said this was the largest LEGO Architecture model. Another group who might not find the model to their satisfaction are those wanting the full artistry of the building. The actual Sagrada Familia has had many world-renowned artists work on it over the years. However, due to the scale, this model primarily showcases the architectural prowess of Antoni Gaudí. You will not experience the intricate carvings, mosaics, glasswork, and various other details that were poured into the real building. Finally, despite it being a UNESCO World Heritage site, there is still an overwhelming amount of religious symbolism found throughout the model. Being currently the world’s tallest church, this fact shouldn’t be ignored. With that said, let’s explore this modern-day wonder.
LEGO SAGRADA FAMILIA – THE BUILD PROCESS
If this will be your first massive LEGO model, you may not expect the sheer amount of repetition. Many models of this scale will feature an architectural element that appears more like a texture. For example, in this model, an angled spire, triangular pediment, or bell tower. These all can look from simple to very involved, but due to the size of the model, your mind may go a bit numb building the same thing for the hundredth time. These sets are marathons, so plan for them to take weeks to prevent yourself from resenting the build process.
LEGO will have several tricks to try to break up the monotony of a creation when they can. In this particular set, they did something I hadn’t ever seen before. Given that the actual building has been under construction since 1882, LEGO has you build the model following the timeline of how it was actually constructed.
In the instructions, as you work on the various segments, you are presented with a range of years and a brief description of what is being built. Starting with the Apse Crypt, you work your way segment by segment until you finish with the Glory Façade. Sometimes elements aren’t completed right away. A good example of this is the Tower of Mary that sits on top of the Apse Crypt. The Tower of Mary came much later, so you won’t build it until it matches the timeline. This is a great way to break up elements that might be a bit too similar, while also giving an interesting history lesson and giving clear points for the model to break down into more manageable segments.
These segments have another interesting feature apart from natural breakpoints. They also feature a modular system that can handle the delicate nature of this type of model. Builders are often more used to LEGO Technic pins and connectors for modular elements. However, that type of connection would more than likely rip apart a model with so many fragile details. To compensate for this, LEGO designers devised a method in the base of each segment.
These bases are two plates thick before tile, and buildings are added. This gives just enough room to add minifigure stand bases under certain spots. This presents a wide tab system allowing the various segments to slot together. Just note, you will need a very flat surface for this tab system to work. Any sagging tabletop will prevent these tabs from sliding together. And because these tabs have no studs, they won’t pull your model to pieces when disengaging any of the segments.
LEGO SAGRADA FAMILIA – THE PACKAGING
The earliest LEGO Architecture sets prided themselves on premium packaging. Over the years, the quality of this packaging has degraded a bit. So, I was curious if at such a high price point, would the packaging of the set return to form? This is why I created a separate video of me unboxing the set and sharing this experience (watch below).
In the video, I did miss the fact that under the top flap there is another flap with a top view of the model. I blame having the first flap in my face, which is how I missed this top-down view picture on the box.
Another discovery I made was that each of the three boxes had its own instruction book. Sadly, these instructions weren’t ring-bound like the earliest LEGO Architecture models. I also thought this meant that each box had all the parts you needed for its given instructions. This is not the case. The first box is three numbered bags short, as are the instructions for box two. So, you will need to dig around and find these numbered steps to have all the parts you need for a given box. This is an improvement over other large sets I’ve built in the past. The 62 numbered bags and 3 or so unnumbered bags are roughly grouped in a useful manner to get you building more quickly.
Finally, I’m happy to report that there are absolutely no stickers in the model. The nameplate, windows printed on the pentagonal tiles all around the building, and the texture printed on the two tallest towers are all printed. This means you don’t have to worry about any stickers being mangled or ruined by the sheer weight of this set.
LEGO SAGRADA FAMILIA – WHAT YOU ACTUALLY BUILD
It is insufficient to simply say you are building the Sagrada. Even though this is technically true, the Sagrada Familia is more of a complex of distinct elements that make up the whole. So, let’s briefly cover what these elements are and talk about some of their distinct characteristics.
Starting with the front of the building, we have the Glory Façade. This is considered to be the primary entrance. There are two other facades, which we’ll get to momentarily. This façade is meant to represent man’s path to God. This is why it has a floating-style front face to elevate your eyes upward. Atop these initial pillars are a series of lanterns to provide a symbolic guiding light. Behind these are four of the twelve bell towers in the complex. The symbolism of the twelve towers is meant to represent the twelve disciples of Jesus. To either side of this façade are two chapels. The eastern chapel is the Penitence & Sacrament, while the western chapel is the Baptistry.
Moving into the building, we have the combined naves. This is the central area containing stepped balcony choirs to either side of the entrance. Additionally, the internal pillars found in the nave have a heavy influence and connection to nature. The nodes and branching arms at the top are meant to represent trees and an organic setting. The naves also feature the largest amount of stained glass, which presents its own form of light show for visitors. Above the heart of the nave are located five of the six towers. The four surrounding towers are the Evangelical Towers relating to Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John, while the central tallest tower is the Tower of Jesus Christ. The cross on this tower also serves as an observation tower that visitors can look out from and see the city of Barcelona.
From the heart of the nave, we have two more facades. To the east is the Nativity Façade and to the west the Passion Façade. The Nativity Façade is decorated with plants and birds, with a sculpture of a cypress tree. This is meant to capture the concept of birth and life. The Passion Façade, in contrast, is to commemorate the crucifixion and sacrifice it entailed. Its design is more sharply angled to capture this emotion. However, Gaudí still wanted nature to be represented. So, the angled pillars at the bottom, which lead up to the 18 fluted pillars, give the impression of tree roots and how they spread out. It is also in this façade where we are introduced to a double narthex. A narthex is a lobby area and is usually located on the western side of a church. A double narthex is a lobby that has been divided into two distinct areas. Both facades feature four bell towers, giving us the remaining ones that make up the full twelve count.
Going back into the nave, there is another section to the north. This is the Apse Crypt. The Apse is the altar section of the church located over the burial crypt. Both the nave and the Apse Crypt feature a small round blue tile. In the real building, those blue tiles have the letters “JMJ.” This stands for “Joseph, Mary, and Jesus.” The building instructions really wanted to point this feature out, but did not mention the significance of the letters. Also found with the Apse Crypt is the final tower. The Tower of Mary is the second tallest tower in the building. At its peak is a stylized star that lights up. This star is roughly 24 feet wide, which can give you a general idea of just how large this building is in real life.
Finally, at the back of the complex are three smaller structures. There are the east and west Sacristy buildings in the corners. These are the buildings that hold any of the sacred or ritual implements. Between these two is the last chapel, the Chapel of the Assumption. Connecting all these structures together is a ring of shorter buildings. These are the cloisters that provide the living quarters. The cloisters are arranged to encircle the building to provide a bit of a sound barrier from the outside city, creating an atmosphere of peace.
LEGO SAGRADA FAMILIA – FINAL THOUGHTS
It is sort of rare these days to have a modern building of this scale, much less one with such daring architecture. This makes the set a great candidate to be a LEGO Architecture model. Plus, there are certain designs you really only see in large religious buildings. Throw in a famous architect like Antoni Gaudí, a UNESCO Heritage site, and the fact that the exterior of the building was finally completed in 2026, and we have a lot of reasons why this model is being released. With that said, it does seem like LEGO is walking a fine line.
The subject matter being a church can detract in one of two ways. The primary being those who have religious objections. The other issue falls on the other side. Let’s say you really do want a church. Well, much of the symbolism is muted. This model is more about the architecture. This does mean a lot of symbolism comes through since that was Gaudí’s intention; however, much of the fine details just aren’t there. This sort of has a bit of a watered-down effect on the purpose of the structure. The end result is a model that is too much for some, but not enough for others.
Beyond this, the price is substantial. You do get your money’s worth in parts here. However, this model still felt smaller than what I was expecting. Many of the parts are what I’d consider ideal for finishing work. In other words, lots and lots of small elements. Taking up around 18 inches side-to-side and front-to-back and standing about 2 feet tall, this is surprisingly compact for an $800 model. What you end up with is very dense and will keep you well supplied for any detail work you are planning to do.
So, who is this for and is it worth the price? Normally, I like LEGO Architecture sets for their subject matter. For instance, for my honeymoon I went to Seattle and visited the Space Needle. That is why I got the related set. However, this model seems more geared towards those who love architecture. We’re talking about those in love with the geometry and form a building takes rather than what the building is. Those who have visited the Sagrada Familia might find this more of a pale imitation, since they probably weren’t there to admire the hyperbolic arches found in the nave. If this sounds like you, then this set will more than likely serve you better than most of the other LEGO Architecture sets out there. You’d even be embracing Gaudi’s method of design, since he often designed by trial and error and heavily relied on scale models. So, if you are a fan of the works of Antoni Gaudi, this is the set for you regardless of the price. If you want to check it out, it is available at the LEGO Architecture section of the Online LEGO Shop.
What do you think? How do you like this massive LEGO Architecture set? Feel free to share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below!
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