Antoni Gaudì’s Casa Milà – La Pedrera, Barcelona

The Casa Milà (Milà House) in Barcelona, also known as “La Pedrera” (the Quarry), is one of the most famous buildings designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudì.

The house, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was built between 1905 and 1912 in the typical Catalan Modernisme style; yet, with this building, Gaudì pushed the style and its distinctive elements beyond the limits.

Above, Casa Milà, view from Passseig de Gràcia; photo © Riccardo Bianchini/Inexhibit

Located in the Eixample district, the building’s design is extremely skillful and inventive; its facades famously feature complex shapes that recall mineral concretions (hence the popular name “La Pedrera”), organic forms, anthropomorphic figures, and obscure religious symbols.

 Another exterior view of Casa Milà; photo © Riccardo Bianchini/Inexhibit

The courtyards and interior spaces are even more articulated and fascinating.  The Milà House’s plan reveals a surprisingly modern approach to an early-20th-century residential building. For example, rather than adding a single central court, Gaudì designed two sinuous courtyards, which look like they were carved into the solid mass of the house; the courtyards provide daylight, architectural complexity, and a fascinating relationship between the inside and outside of each apartment.
The apartments, four on each floor, consist of a sequence of cell-shaped rooms connected by corridors; each apartment overlooks both the street and one of the inner courtyards.

A scale model showing La Pedrera’s typical floor plan; photo by Daniele Paccaloni (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

The roof terrace of the Pedrera, along with being a panoramic space overlooking one of Barcelona’s most characteristic neighborhoods, is an outstanding open-air exhibition of zoomorphic sculptural chimneys and decorations which recall those of the Guell Park designed by Gaudì between 1900 and 1914.

Casa Milà, detail of the façade; photo © Riccardo Bianchini/Inexhibit

One of Pedrera’s courtyards. Photo: Mattia Panciroli (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Along with an architectural masterpiece, the Milà is a museum and an exhibition center, managed by the Catalunya-La Pedrera foundation. The museum is focused both on the building itself and, more generally, on the artistic career of Gaudì.
In the attic, a gallery called Espai Gaudì (Gaudì’s Space) depicts the architecture and design of the Catalan architect through models, drawings, objects, and multimedia exhibits. There is also an apartment refitted with original furniture designed by Gaudì.
Casa Milà is also a dynamic cultural venue frequently hosting temporary exhibitions, concerts, conferences, and educational activities. The center includes a bookshop and a cafe.

Casa Milà, the attic; photo by Joe Nestlerode (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

The roof terrace with its zoomorphic and anthropomorphic sculptures; photo by Joe Nestlerode (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)