Massive Building Projects That Were Never Finished

With towering peaks of stones, Gothic and Art Nouveau details, and a façade that's visible from almost any point in the city, the Sagrada Familia has been the focal point of Barcelona since architect Antoni Gaudi embarked on his masterpiece in 1882. But despite its stunning appearance, it's actually an unfinished work of art. The trouble began when Gaudi was struck by a tram and died in 1926, leaving the church without its chief architect, according to Artsy. Then, about 10 years later, anarchist labor unions took control of Barcelona as a result of the Spanish Civil War and the Sagrada Familia partly became a victim when construction models, plans, and drawings were destroyed.

Things looked like they were turning around for the church when a new architect was named and later, a fundraising drive and an increased number of visitors brought in needed money to continue Gaudi's ambitious project. Critics, however, called for a pause of the continued construction, as the artists felt that the updated plans couldn't hold a candle to Gaudi's original intentions. Finally, though, there seems to now be a light at the end of the tunnel: In 2019, the first building project permit was approved for the church, according to the church's blog. This new chapter means work on the narthex on the Glory façade as well as the surrounding area is in sight, and the Sagrada Familia is planned to finally be completed in 2026.

We often think of these massive, unfinished structures as only being in faraway lands, but for East Coasters, there's one right around the corner. Take a close look at the unfinished blocks on the façade of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and you can see it for yourself. So how did this fate befall the largest art museum in the United States? As the museum's collection began to outgrow its space after being built in 1895, Richard Morris Hunt was asked to design an addition, which he planned to be a Beaux Arts palace at the front full of elaborate details like sculptures and columns, according to Daytonian in Manhattan. But the timing couldn't have been worse: The Great Depression from 1893 to 1897 continued to pummel budgets during this time, which also affected the museum's addition. Then, Hunt died in 1895, leaving the addition without its original leader.

The project's sculptor had planned to create four limestone statues on the front façade and similar statues in the Great Hall on circular stone blanks. In preparation, limestone blocks and the stone blanks were set in place in both areas, but they would remain in their crude states as funds ran out. Even though additions continued in 1911 and later, 1975, no one ever finished the plans for the statues.

Although we know little about North Korea, one thing we do know is the country's leaders love to keep up appearances, no many how much of a phony façade they may be. That definitely applies to the Ryugyong Hotel, a foreboding, pyramid-shaped skyscraper in the heart of Pyongyang. When construction began on the building in 1987, it was planned to have 3,000 rooms and five revolving restaurants, according to CNN. But now, it's simply the world's tallest unoccupied building, as well as one with a rather uncomplimentary nickname: the Hotel of Doom, named as such due to its towering ferocity over all other city buildings.

Although it hit its planned 1,000-foot height five years after construction began, efforts to finish the hollow building have started and stopped to this day due to economic issues. It all began when South Korea was readying to host the 1988 Summer Olympics and built what was then the world's tallest hotel, the Westin Stamford. In competition, North Korea built the Ryugyong Hotel to house their own 1989 World Festival of Youth and Students and pick up the record themselves. But the hotel couldn't be finished in time for the festival — or any others, for that matter. Now, it's become such an embarrassment to the country that official photos of the city are usually airbrushed to hide the Hotel of Doom.

There was a time when Herrenchiemsee Neues Schloss was planned to be even more stunning and opulent than Versailles. However, King Ludwig II's vision never came to fruition, even almost 150 years after he dreamed it on his inherited Herreninsel Island. Ludwig originally designed, along with a team of experts, Neues Schloss (which translates to "New Castle") to be a tribute to Louis XIV with its 70 rooms, sweeping and colorful gardens, and towering fountains, reported Atlas Obscura. But when Ludwig died just a few years after the plans were solidified, he left behind just 20 completed rooms and a whopping $250 million (in today's currency) in bills. Before he died, he was also dangerously close to bankruptcy. Construction promptly came to an end and some of the castle's unfinished work was destroyed.

But there's a reason for that $250 million bill: Those 20 rooms weren't ordinary rooms. Neues Schloss included its own Grand Hall of Mirrors that was even more impressive than that found at Versailles, as well as a few state rooms filled with gold-outfitted details. Luckily for tourists, they can actually see both these royal rooms in guided tours of the castle. But don't be too disappointed to see the unfinished bits as well, like a half-constructed staircase and exposed brick walls.

One of Adolf Hitler's lesser-known endeavors was an attempt to build the world's largest sports stadium, which would have the capacity to hold 400,000 people among its 300-foot-high grandstands. He planned to use the Deutsches Stadion (the German Stadium) for the Olympics as well as for Nazi Party events, since it was located in the city that was also home to party conventions, according to the Daily Mail. The stadium would also feature towers topped with Nazi Party eagles with 50-foot wingspans.

The project never came to fruition due to World War II, but it certainly came close. A full-size test was ordered to be built after Hitler and his architect unveiled a 6-foot model to an adoring crowd. Four hundred workers got to business on the project and, after a year and a half, a section of stadium seating which was able to hold 40,000 people was completed in Hirschbach, a village about an hour outside of Nuremberg. Once Hitler saw the grand full-size test, construction of the actual Deutsches Stadion was supposed to begin in 1938. But when World War II erupted, plans quickly changed and the project was halted. Plus, then people living near the space nabbed the timber and used it to repair their homes, leaving behind just a few concrete walls and pillars surrounded by greenery.

If someone asked you to imagine a castle in your head, the one you would picture is likely Neuschwanstein Castle, a German castle that the castle at Disney World, and the Disney logo itself, actually took its inspiration from. But what Disney fans likely don't know is that this majestic castle with towering white peaks is actually unfinished. It all began in 1868 when King Louis II (otherwise known as "Mad King Ludwig") decided to build his own medieval-style castle inspired by Hohenschwangau Castle, which is where he grew up, according to Britannica. Hohenschwangau Castle featured ornate décor reflecting both legend and poetry, and King Louis II wanted to create a new castle like this for himself.

Although at the time it was built, castles were no longer needed as strongholds for monarchies, Neuschwanstein Castle still had a walled courtyard, an artificial cave, and an indoor garden. Yet it also had creature comforts of the time such as running water, hot water, an elevator, telephone lines, and central heating system. However, King Louis II's big dreams were over when he committed suicide in 1886. Unfortunately, even before that, King Louis II only lived there off-and-on for about six months in total, so he never even got to enjoy much of his fairytale.

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ at​ 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

George C. Boldt was a millionaire as well as an adoring husband. To showcase his life for his wife, Louise Boldt, the proprietor of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City planned to build a Rhineland castle on Alexandria Bay, a scenic area on Heart Island, according to the castle's website. But only four years after construction began, the love story was over for the happy couple: Louise died suddenly and George couldn't bear to finish the 120-room castle without her, so he packed up and left, never to return, despite all of his hard work. Prior to Louise's death, George had hired 300 workers to create the castle, which featured tunnels, lush Italian gardens, a drawbridge, and a miniature castle for children to play in.

For nearly 75 years, the six-story Boldt Castle sat abandoned and unfinished until the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired the property in 1977 and opened it for visitors. Now, anyone can see this remarkable showcase of love for themselves by first getting to the castle by either their own personal boat or a boat tour. Then, they can check out castle features like a marble staircase; hearts carved into wood, stone, and plaster; gold chandeliers; and an imposing library, described the Press & Sun-Bulletin. As visitors have flocked to see the amazing space, millions of dollars have been used to rehabilitate and restore the structure to its former glory.