Gаudí’s yet another world-famous and monumental offspring, casa Milà is also known as La Pedrera, or the Quarry. Its grey undulating surface emerged on the streets of Barcelona between 1905 and 1910 with a dual purpose of combining an apartment building with an office space. It was formally named in honour of the commissioner of the work, but the name of Milà did not stick as well as La Pedrera, most likely due to the very appearance of Gaudí’s project. Grey facade is only covered in grey stone rather than build out of it; it is decorated with wavy reliefs and balconies accompanied by iron-wrought railings for further undulating effect. The commissioner Pere Milà was a well-known businessman, a rich and ambitious person who knew to make sure that Gaudí’s creation would be the most grandiose in Barcelona. Incidentally, he was also Barcelona’s first car-owner and Gaudí incorporated the first ever parking space into casa Milà especially for him.
Lа Pedrera is now occupied by the Fundació Caixa Catalunya which has allowed visitors to access the top-floor apartment, the roof and the attic, all together referred to as "Gaudí space". The roof deserves rapt attention, especially its colourful chimneys that are said to have inspired the look of imperial soldiers of "Star Wars". Gaudí also planned to erect a statue of Virgin Mary up there, but the Milà family refused, fearing it to become a potential target for anarchists (at the time of construction social unrest spiked numerous arsons and bombings in the city). Gaudí left the project right after, but thankfully the house was complete by that time. There is a small museum on the 6th floor dedicated to his work, including videos and models of each of his creations.
The аlready mentioned apartment, called El Pis de la Pedrera, is two floors down from the roof, elegantly furnished and stylish, a very modern home for its times, and is rather welcoming: who would not want to move in after seeing Gaudí’s trademark curves and waves in everything in the interior, done with a lot of attention and personal touch? If it were not for crowds of visitors, one could imagine being a friend and a guest of a wealthy family who lived there. The walls of the apartment, too, are obviously not straight, and it is said that one of the tenants complained to the architect that she could not find a way to fit her piano into the apartment. The story goes that Gaudí advised her to switch to the flute.
There аre often exhibitions held on the first floors of La Pedrera, and in August casa Milà hosts musical evenings.
It is virtually impossible to score accommodation in La Pedrera itself, but you can rent an apartment in Barcelona just steps away from Gaudí's creation.
