Sagrada Familia: A Century of Vision
On June 10, 2026, the architectural world marks a milestone as the central tower of Jesus Christ at the Sagrada Familia is inaugurated, exactly one century after the death of Antoni Gaudí. Standing at 172.5 meters, it becomes the world’s tallest church tower, surpassing Germany’s Ulm Minster. Notably, the structure remains intentionally shorter than Barcelona’s Montjuic hill, honoring Gaudí’s philosophy that human creations should not surpass the natural works of God.
Controversy in the Adriatic
Contrasting this legacy of harmonious design, a modern development project in Albania has ignited significant public and legal backlash. According to reports from CNN and regional environmental groups, a project backed by Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner proposes luxury resorts on Sazan Island and the Pishë Poro-Narta protected landscape. Conservationists from BirdLife and the Albanian organization PPNEA warn that the project threatens endangered species, including sea turtles and flamingos, and has already caused irreversible damage to local dunes.
The Conflict of Development
The Albanian government, led by Prime Minister Edi Rama, defends the potential for development, arguing that environmental impact assessments are ongoing. However, the project has triggered an investigation by SPAK, Albania’s special anti-corruption prosecution office. Critics point to 2024 legislative changes that exempt “5-star” luxury developments from standard environmental protections as a “brutal” subversion of law that complicates Albania’s EU integration path. While proponents claim the project will bring economic value, the lack of publicly available permits and the disregard for protected habitats have fueled widespread street protests in Tirana, with citizens declaring that the country’s natural heritage is “not for sale.”