Raquel Lacusky
At the heart of the famous street of Passeig de Gràcia, lies one of Antoni Gaudi's most renowned works: Casa Mila.
Casa Mila, also known as La Pedrera, was Gaudi's last work before he committed the rest of his life to La Sagrada Familia. Therefore, the whimsical living space built for the wealthy Mila family showcases all of the brilliance that Gaudi obtained during his years working as an architect and designer; making it one of Barcelona's most notable landmarks.
Antoni Gaudí creative genius
Antoni Gaudí was born in the summer of 1852 in Reus, Spain to a family of boilermakers. Learning the profession of boiler making taught Gaudí principles of space and volume that would later prove to be essential to his career as an architect.
Despite displaying signs of genius in his early years, Gaudí struggled with his health. His unstable health forced him to spend ample time resting in his family's summer house in Riudoms, where he spent his days analyzing principles of nature that would eventually become the secret ingredients of his world-famous architecture.
Gaudí moved to Barcelona to study architecture in 1870 where his talent allowed him to begin collaborating with his teachers and peers, but it wasn't until later in his career that he started creating masterpieces that channeled his pure genius and showed off his full potential.
Taking heavy influence from nature, Gaudí's eccentric architecture stood out from the traditional works dispersed throughout Spain. Characterized by open internal spaces and decorated with artistic designs, his masterpieces set a new precedent for Spanish architecture. Gaudí's most notable works Casa Vicens, Casa Calvet, Güell Palace, Park Güell, Episcopal Palace of Astorga, Casa Batlló, Casa Mila, and La Sagrada Familia attract tourists from all over the world who come to Marvel at the architect's unique genius.
Casa Mila is Gaudí's last work before he dedicated his life to the unfinished La Sagrada, which become both the crowning gem of Barcelona and his career.
Being his last residential building, Casa Mila serves as a culmination of all of the time and talent of Gaudi's great career.
Casa Mila: a brief history
Pere Milá and his wife, Roser Segimon, commissioned Gaudi to build Casa Mila in 1906. Pere, a member of the bourgeoisie, worked as a politician, entrepreneur, and stockholder; solidifying him as a Spanish public figure. The couple wanted to live among the luxury of Passeig de Gràcia in a building in which they could live on the main floor and rent out the remaining apartment units to renters.
The building of the famous house received ample controversy. Gaudí exceeded his budget, broke City Council building codes, disrupted a luxurious neighborhood with hefty construction, and ignored typical Passeig de Gràcia building norms. Many newspapers and magazines were critical of the house's eclectic style and poked fun at Gaudi's soon-to-be masterpiece. Casa Mila earned its famous nickname La Pedrera, which translates to the quarry in Catalan,
Although it didn't come easy, La Pedrera now receives showers of praise and has earned its spot on numerous Barcelona postcards.
The house is now owned by the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation which allows many visitors to experience the true magic of Gaudí. The foundation emphasizes the message that the house now belongs to the people and visitors of Barcelona who come to take in its many wonders.
The magic of Mila
Casa Mila is far from the typical architecture one experiences on a daily basis. The influences Gaudí took from nature and the natural light that seeps through the structure's many windows breathe life into the otherwise inanimate object. The following are a few of the many spectacles found in Casa Milá that one should look forward to seeing upon visiting.
The roof-terrace
The roof-terrace is one of La Pedrera's most attractive attributes. The terrace features one of the best views of Barcelona. It showcases large mosaic decorating stairwell covers and chimneys which take the shape of ancient Spanish warriors.
Upon the terrace be sure to take a look through its archways. Each feature a straight few to some of Barcelona's most famous architecture; including La Sagrada Familia.
Anna Romero is a university student from Seville visiting a cousin who attends the University of Barcelona. She, like many other visitors, found the views from the terrace to be breathtaking. "I've walked up and down Passeig de Gràcia many times, but seeing it from up here is amazing," Romero said.
The view of Passeig de Gràcia from the top of Gaudi's last commissioned house is one like no other. The roof-terrace of La Pedrera allows visitors to appreciate the city of Barcelona on another level.
The whale attic
The dark open attic of Casa Mila is hauntingly beautiful. The dark yet incredibly open space mimics the inner ribcage of a whale; making it feel like the belly of the house.
Both the roof-terrace and the whale attic work together to symbolize wealth and luxury. Gaudí admired how wealthy people wore both a hat and a parasol in order to protect themselves from the sun in two different ways. Gaudi sought to mimic this concept in Casa Mila allowing the terrace to serve as the house's parasol and the attic as its hat.
Showcased in the attic are figurines that show the plans for some of Gaudi's most notable works scattered along the city of Barcelona including Park Güell, Casa Batllo, and La Sagrada Familia.
Along with the figurines, are original pieces of furniture that Gaudí created to decorate the interior of the house. Be sure to take a look at the unique two-person chair that he designed, as it perfectly encapsulates his unique vision.
The furnished bedrooms
Unlike Casa Batllo, many rooms of Casa Mila contain original 1920s furniture that allows one to visualize what life was like living inside one of Gaudi's masterpieces. It gives insight into how wealthy people lived in Spain during that time period. You are able to see a variety of rooms spanning from a children's room, the master suite, the sewing room, the kitchen, the maid's quarters and Pere Mila's study. The incredible details showcasing original clothing, photographs and artwork make the rooms feel like you are stepping directly into another place in time.
The courtyards
The courtyards feature a wide-open space that allows a pool of sunlight to spread into the house from the open ceiling. The light brings energy and nature directly into the center of the building. Gaudi is known to have said, "electric lighting is laughable compared to sunlight."
Evan Wright from the UK came to visit Barcelona with his girlfriend. The couple was very grateful to have made it to Casa Milo on their trip. They found the courtyards of the building to be particularly captivating. "Being able to feel the sun come in from right above you is a really cool experience," Wright said. "I've never been in a building like this," Taylor, his girlfriend, added.
The gifts of Gaudí
Gaudí's miraculous talents are scattered throughout the city of Barcelona. The imprint he made on Modern architecture with his diverse style separates him from other architects of his generation. Casa Milo is just one way to experience his beautiful talent and one that definitely should not be taken for granted.
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