Casa Milà (La Pedrera)

The Quarry House

"La Pedrera" translates to "the quarry house". Casa Milà got this nickname because of the unusual construction. The large stone slabs of the facade were attached first and then worked on by the stonemasons. And the facade, with its irregular shapes, reminds of a quarry.

The front of the house looks like a massive rock, broken only by wavy lines and iron ornaments. The bright stone and the otherwise colorless facade of this building distinguishes it from Gaudí's other works and looks very expressionistic. The house consists of two components, which are connected only by the facade, the ground floor and the roof. Each has its own yard and entrance.

The curved facade is a unique example of organic architecture. It stands in contrast to Casa Batllò, with its colorful and playful facade. Gaudí deliberately focused on the design of the building, used very little paint and left the materials natural.

The city of Barcelona declared Casa Milà to be an architectural work of art already right after completion. As the first building of the 20th century, Casa Milà was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984.

The Interior of Casa Milà

The construction of the interior was groundbreaking as well. The house has a natural ventilation system, which makes an air conditioner unnecessary. Gaudí's plans also included a lift, but it wasn't built into the house until much later.

Colors and natural, round shapes decorate the courtyards. The stairs that lead to the entrances of the apartments wind along the walls.

Gaudí designed Casa Milà exclusively with natural shapes, so that there is hardly a right angle to find anywhere. In addition to the courtyards, you can also visit an apartment in modernistic style from the beginning of the 20th century.

The Belletage (in English "beautiful floor") was originally reserved for the owners, the tenants and employees lived on the upper floors. Today, the Art Museum of Fundació Catalunya - La Pedrera is located on the Belle Etage. The interior walls of the Casa Milà can be moved with little effort, which was made possible by a concrete-steel construction, which does not require load-bearing walls, similar to what is common in modern office buildings today.

The attic of the house is unusually large. In these rooms you can visit an exhibition about Gaudí's life and his buildings. Through subdued music and slideshows immerse yourself in Gaudí's fascinating world  and learn a lot about the organic morphology that Gaudí has developed.

The Roof of La Pedrera

The highlight of Casa Milà is without a doubt the roof. Not only the outstanding view over the city attracts the attention of the visitors. Rather, the chimneys, ventilation shafts and staircases do it with their imaginative colors and shapes. Some chimneys look like medieval knights guarding the roof.

In the attic you can visit Espai Gaudí (the Gaudí Room), a very interesting museum dedicated to Antoní Graudí's architecture and of course Casa Milà itself.

History of Casa Milà (La Pedrera)

The history of this house begins like the history of every residential building. A couple named Milà decides to build a house on their 2,000 square metres large property on the noble Passeig de Gràcia. It was supposed to become a special house, which stands out in the modern Eixample district.

To build a special house, you need a special architect. The husband - Pedro Milà - had heard of Gaudí, a very successful and innovative architect. He had just rebuilt the house of a wealthy man, Casa Batlló, which is on the same street. Milà hired Gaudí on the spot and had him design plans for the house. The construction of the house began in 1906 and was completed four years later.

As the first building of the 20th century, Casa Milà was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1984.

With its many groundbreaking details, it is certainly one of the most important modernistic buildings. Surely you will agree that it is one of the most extraordinary buildings in Barcelona.

Visit Casa Milà

Casa Milà is rightly one of the most visited attractions in Barcelona. Tickets should therefore be booked in advance, as the waiting time at the ticket office is usually very long.

The building is a highlight of Antoní Gaudí's works. The roof with its ventilation chambers in the shape of soldiers is impressive. At the museum you will learn a lot about Gaudí's formal language and in the apartment you will get an insight into the everyday life of the bourgeoisie (and its staff) in the time of Modernsime.

Here you can book the tickets in advance, you won't need to wait in line at the box office and you will save money.