Casa Mila in Barcelona: description, history, photo

Unusual Mila's house in Barcelona, whose photo often appears on pages of various magazines, is a bright masterpiece of the great architect Gaudi, attracting attention by the amazing balance between airiness and cumbersomeness. Drawing inspiration from nature, the author of the innovative project was much ahead of the architecture of his time, for which his work, which looks rather strange, was heavily criticized. Local residents nicknamed the intricate structure resembling a mountain, a "quarry", and the press ridiculed the "bestial hole", printing caustic comments and caustic caricatures.

A unique masterpiece of architecture

Casa Milà is not only a residential building, but also an architectural monument that has been protected by UNESCO since 1984. The popular Mila house in Barcelona is the last secular work of a genius author who worked hard on a complex structure. For Gaudi, an unusual project, turned into the most visited city landmark, became the main thing in life. Faced with bureaucracy, the creator even wanted to abandon the construction begun, however, after receiving the help of officials, he finished his work and handed over a masterpiece to admiring customers.

History of building appearance

Antonio Gaudi, being already a well-known architect with an unconventional vision of the surrounding world, in 1906 met a married couple who did not consider money for parties and buying real estate. The textile tycoon Pere Mila, whose wife received an inheritance after the death of her first husband, indulged all her whims. A wealthy lady dreamed of owning a building different from the rest in Barcelona, and her husband turned to the author of unusual architectural works with a request to build a unique house that would not be equal in the world.

The businessman wanted one floor to be allocated for a house for his family, and the rest were meant for renting. The customer, who bought a huge plot, gave Gaudi complete freedom of action.

Antonio, who developed the project, in which his violent fantasy manifested itself, abstracted from real life. In a short time, he gave Mila, who was hungry for a real masterpiece, a blueprint for a future project, where there was no symmetry. The couple was going to rent out apartments in a new building, and so the architect made a bid for a convenient layout.

During construction, the financial stability of the family was shaken, as the authorities repeatedly fined the customer for the fact that the new building, which appeared in 1910, exceeded the current standards for height and width.

No Templates

Curiously, Gaudi, who invented the original design, created "floating" partitions so that the walls in the rooms could be moved, and this innovation became a sensation in the last century. He threw aside all the existing patterns, dreaming to finally bring the person closer to nature. In order to improve the project, the genius added new elements to the drawing, but the couple kept on hurried the architect, violating his plans.

By the way, researchers of the great master's creativity believe that the structure looks somewhat different from what Gaudi originally designed it. So, for example, the author, who wants to create the brightest building in Barcelona, wanted to "lighten" the massive house with green lianas around him. The city authorities demanded constant coordination of all the details of the project and for a long time did not give permission to implement the fantasy of the artist's enthusiasm for creativity. Antonio wanted to install elevators on even floors, so that tenants could get to know each other and establish communication among themselves, and they appeared, but much later.

Description of an amazing house

The facade of the amazing house Mila in Barcelona (Spain) resembles a giant rock, over the appearance of which a lot of time worked waves that smoothed all the sharp corners, and delicate forged lattices on the balconies are like intertwined algae. Soft lines go from one to another, and the daily play of light and shadow creates the illusion of perpetual motion: it seems as if the river streams that have drained from the roof are frozen in a stone. Such bends of a massive building create a pleasant psychological atmosphere. The looking surrealist architectural work lacks load-bearing walls, and such a dangerous reception became possible due to the most accurate calculations of the master who did not have the right to make a mistake.

Intermediate floors are supported by columns of whimsical shapes, and the walls are movable partitions that move easily. At the owner's request, space can be modeled.

The interior of the structure, which is a reflection of natural motifs, is divided into zones. The interior is designed in the style in which Antonio Gaudi always worked, and the Casa Mila in Barcelona is famous for its rounded forms, which are its main design elements. Each of the five floors is unique and does not resemble the previous one, which is a delight for residents and tourists.

Innovator Gaudi

The innovation of Gaudi, who invested his soul in the construction, was manifested in the fact that he developed a project of a building in which each room had windows. In Spain at the beginning of the XX century, many rooms were deaf, and Antonio's decision was revolutionary for that time. The author of the sea-causing emotions of the structure did not adhere to the standard calculations, dreaming of creating a real palace, where each room with different height of ceilings would be flooded with sunlight. Despite the difficulties, he managed to solve all the tasks, and a truly unique monument of architecture appeared - as if the house of Mila descended from the pages of fairy tales in Barcelona.

Gaudi, who was trying to convey the greatness of nature in stone, created artificial patios, through which not only a lot of light passed, but all the rooms were ventilated. Surprisingly, the genius has so carefully thought out the ventilation system that even now there are no air-conditioners in the rooms, and this despite the hot climate of Barcelona. In addition, here for the first time in the history of Europe there was an underground parking.

Fantastic looking roof

The most interesting place of the extravagant Mila house in Barcelona is the roof terrace, which, when viewed, gives the impression of the presence of fairy-tale characters on it and it seems that the imagination of the brilliant architect is not beyond limit. In fact, behind the quaint towers and twisted columns, covered with ceramic tiles (majolica), ventilation shafts and chimneys are hidden. With what they just did not compare! Some saw servicemen, others saw eastern women in a veil, and the third they reminded strange geological formations. Unusual design was a harbinger of the emergence of a new style in modern architecture - an abstract one.

Magic world

The building is in demand among influential and wealthy Spaniards, renting apartments here, but most of the building belongs to the Catalan bank, which occupies premises for offices.

Tourists are only allowed access to the upper floor area of 1000 m ² , from which made a huge museum with the possibility of access to the roof and attic of the house Mila (Barcelona). The photos they make cause admiration and a desire to be there immediately. Each visitor seems to be in some magical world, leading to a state of shock. In fact, this is a spacious park, which is an excellent observation deck, which opens up a wonderful panorama of Barcelona.

For a fee, you can get into the apartment on the top floor, where the interiors of the early XX century are preserved. Here time has stopped, and the guests are in the atmosphere of the past era. You can not bypass the souvenir shop located right there. All the money received from sales goes to the maintenance of the museum.

Where to find and how to get there

Guests of Spain are interested in the question of how to find an unforgettable impression of the Casa Mila in Barcelona. The address of the building that has become a visiting card of the city is: Passeig de Gracia, 92. You can get to it by metro (lines 3 and 5), and you need to get off at the Diagonal stop. Also to the right place (Provença-La Pedrera) will take city buses under the numbers 7, 16, 17, 22 and 24.

Tips for tourists

Experienced tourists warn that in the high season there are huge queues to the cashier, and those who do not want to stand for long in the scorching sun, it's easiest to order an electronic ticket on the official website. Its cost ranges from 20 euros for adults, children under 12 years old - 10 euros, and for children under 7 years old, admission is free. The audio guide is already included in the ticket price, in addition, visitors have the right to take photos. In rainy weather, the entrance to the roof of Mil's house in Barcelona is prohibited.

For those who wish during the summer season, night light and music shows are held. The price (34 euros) also includes a visit to the museum and a glass of sparkling wine - kava. However, colorful performances accompanied by laser installation are so popular that tickets are best booked in advance, since the number of seats is limited.

A masterpiece of architecture that has become part of nature

Impressed with the beauty of tourists who have visited the fairy-tale house Mila in Barcelona, admit that they experienced incredible emotions. One of the most unusual buildings in the world is not only the creation of human hands, but also a part of living nature. They come here to admire the fantastic world of the architect, who had an amazing fantasy and ahead of his time.