Posted on 08/30/2013 7:32:55 PM PDT by marshmallow
Justo Gallego Martinez has worked on the building at Mejorada del Campo near Madrid since the early 1960s
He had no architectural training and no construction experience and had never laid a brick before in his life
The former Trappist monk vowed to build the cathedral after surviving a bout of tuberculosis
With its giant spires and magnificent dome to rival that of St Peter's Basillica, Mejorada del Campo's impressive cathedral looks like it has been skilfully crafted by a team of architectural experts.
It's impossible to believe that it has been single-handedly built by a former trappist monk who had never laid a brick in his life.
The as yet unfinished building, a little over 12 miles outside of Madrid, has been painstakingly built piece by piece over 50 years by 86-year-old farmer Justo Gallego Martinez.
He had no prior knowledge of architecture and no experience in the construction industry, but instead has spent five decades collecting junk and discarded building material in order to build the 131ft tall structure.
After working as a farmer and bullfighter, deeply religious Mr Martinez - or Don Justo as he is known - spent eight years at a Trappist monastery.
But he was forced to leave when he was struck down with tuburculosis in 1961.
During his illness, he vowed that if he survived it he would build a chapel and name it after the Virgin Mary to whom he prayed while he was sick.
True to his vow, Don Justo began building what he describes as his act of faith in 1963 and despite his lack of skills or building materials, is still working on the project today.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Bizarre, but impressive.
Antoni Gaudi built an impressive church (still in progress of being built, actually) in Barcelona.
Actually, that is kinda cool
Now that is dedication! More power to ‘em!
That’s really something. I would have been more impressed with him if he had prayed to God instead of a dead woman.
By the time it’s finished, the Muslims will be ruling Spain again.
You really are bipolar, Bob.
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Several buildings in my area, including churches, were made with that rocks-in-cement technique around the 1920s. It’s pretty neat.
Will not happen.
Wonderful.
Now that is a work of holy art!
This monk recycled bigtime.
Very Cool...I like how he combines the Romanesque architectural forms with modern curves and drum-shaped cloisters. For a person with no training, he shows a great deal of sensitivity to form and balance. I LIKE it!
That being said, if he tried his inspired art here he would be hounded by the EPA, The Local Zoning Laws, The IRS (Where DID he get the funding?), the NSA(Probably a Right-Wing Religious Nut), Obamacare (Does he hire any helpers and will he pay for their abortions?) and, of course, OSHA and The Labor Department.
This section focuses on unusual buildings, structures, and spaces. Many include concrete statuary and/or recycled building materials. These creations are often referred to as folk art, visionary art or outsider art. Most of the builders had little or no formal architectural training and no connection with the art world. A few constructions by "schooled" artists and architects are included in this section as well. There are also some large-scale religious grottos here as well. If you have any recommendations of other places, I'd love to hear from you. Enjoy!
Narrow Larry "visionary folk art environments in the united states"
Which is to say, this guy’s far from the only one to be an obsessive amateur architect.
What a waste of time and money...A shrine to Jesus’ mother...
What dead woman is that?
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