Stained Glass and Weight-Bearing Gothic ArchesRenee ZuckermanAward: Top 100
School: trinity school During spring break this year, I went to Barcelona with my family. During our trip, one of the highlights was visiting the Sagrada Familia, a very famous church designed by Antoni GaudÃ. Since his death, seven other architects have continued building the Sagrada Familia, and the set completion date was 2026, though that has since changed due to the COVID Pandemic. However, one of the least-known, yet in my opinion coolest, parts of the church are its arched windows. And yes, the colors and artistry are very impressive, though the construction of the windows themselves are equally as masterful. Since the glass cannot support the weight of the stone above it, these Gothic-style arched windows were built to bear the weight of the stone. The stones above the windows are placed so that friction and gravity keep them in an arch shape, and they all push against each other, without putting any pressure on the glass below. 
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