Who was the original architect of the Sagrada Família before Gaudí?

The original architect of the Sagrada Família before Gaudí was Francesc de Paula del Villar.

Villar was appointed to design the project in its early phase, and construction began in 1882 under his direction. His proposal envisioned a conventional Gothic Revival church with a comparatively standard layout, including a crypt and planned nave structure.

Villar resigned in 1883 after disagreements connected with the project. Antoni Gaudí then took over and radically expanded the design, replacing the relatively restrained initial concept with the monumental, highly original basilica known today. Gaudí remained associated with the project until his death in 1926.

Joan Martorell was important in Gaudí’s professional development and was connected with the project’s wider architectural circle, but he was not the original architect. Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Lluís Domènech i Montaner were also prominent Catalan architects, yet neither preceded Gaudí as architect of the Sagrada Família.