Casa Mila by Antonio Gaudi

Hello everyone! I'm back to blogging for my Latino Media class. This series of my blog is dedicated to Latino Architects. Get ready for some incredible architecture! Please let me know if you have any suggestions. As much as I enjoy architecture-- my knowledge is limited to one basic course I took freshman year and monthly installments of Architectural Digest!

This absolutely stunning house was very modern for its time. Casa Mila was built in the very early 1900s. The Milas bought the lot in a very wealthy area of the neighborhood, surrounded by beautiful, traditional homes. At the time, locals nick named Casa Mila "La Pedrera" (translation: the quarry) because of its austere appearance amongst the traditional homes. "La Pedrera" is a term people without formal education called Casa Mila, perhaps because they were not familiar with Gaudi's other buildings and parks. He has a very unique style that is easy to recognize. Today the nickname La Pedrera has changed from unfortunate to endearing. After designing the Casa Milla, Gaudi was commissioned to La Sagrada Familia, which is undeniably his best work.

One of my favorite features of this house is the "curtain walls" made from steel and concrete. In a land of either circular or straight walls, Gaudi played with this design to include both. Modern day architecture is full of curtain walls, or at least curved structures. He wanted to create a sense of community amongst the large structure's residents. The work as a whole resembles a beehive like structure symbolizing Gaudi's intention to provide a well functioning dwelling for all residents. The organic nature of this building is absolutely marvelous. Many applaud Gaudi for his paradox of creating a "man made" and "organic" structure.

Frank Gehry's Disney Concert Hall uses curtain walls made of metal. Casa Mila is more organic in appearance due to the texture of the concrete. If the Disney Concert Hall was built in the 1900's, it would have accrued a nick name harsher than "La Pedrera!" After a bit of research some feel as though Casa Mila influenced Frank Lloyd Wright’s Guggenheim Museum as well. Being a huge FLW fan, I respectfully disagree, but that's for another blog post! I offer a second, although fictional, building that was influenced by Casa Mila. The curved structures and concrete material are reminiscent of Disney's Little Mermaid Ariel's underwater castle.

Back to Gaudi! As an avid Catholic, Gaudi included many religious symbols. This seems unusual in a residential setting at first, but before residential architecture Gaudi designed churches and religious living quarters. Also, Spain was and still is a very Catholic nation.

Presently, Casa Mila is maintained and protected by the UNESCO heritage foundation because it is considered an international treasure. UNESCO acquired Casa Mila in the 1980s after years of neglect. With tender loving care Casa Mila is open for tours, so if you find yourself in Barcelona please go!