DK Travel : Barcelona : La Pedrera

La Pedrera

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Completed in 1910, this fantastic, undulating apartment block, with its out-of-this-world roof and delicate wrought ironwork, is one of the most emblematic of all Gaudí’s works. La Pedrera (the Stone Quarry), also known as Casa Milà, was Gaudí’s last great civic work before he dedicated the rest of his life to the Sagrada Família (Sagrada Família). Restored to its former glory in 1996 after years of decay, La Pedrera now contains a museum dedicated to the architect, the exhibition centre of the Caixa de Catalunya, a furnished museum apartment, as well as private residences. What makes La Pedrera so magical is that every last detail, from door knobs to light fittings, bears the hallmark of Gaudí’s visionary genius.
For more on Modernista architecture see Modernista Buildings For more on Antoni Gaudí see Antoni Gaudí

Top 10 Features

1. Façade & Balconies

1. Façade & Balconies

Defying the laws of gravity, La Pedrera’s irreverent curved walls are held in place by undulating horizontal beams attached to invisible girders. Intricate wrought-iron balconies are a perfect example of the artisan skill so integral to Modernisme .

Façade, La Pedrera
2. Roof

2. Roof

The strikingly surreal rooftop sculpture park has chimneys resembling medieval warriors and huge ventilator ducts twisted into bizarre organic forms not to mention good views over the Eixample.
3. Espai Gaudí

A series of drawings, photos, maquettes and multimedia displays helps visitors grasp Gaudí’s architectural wizardry. The museum is housed in the breathtaking, vaulted attic with its 270 brick arches forming skeletal corridors.
4. El Pis de La Pedrera

4. El Pis de La Pedrera

This furnished Modernista flat, set up with period furniture, reconstructs a typical bourgeois flat of late 19th-century Barcelona. It provides an engaging contrast between the staid middle-class conservatism of the era and the undeniable wackiness of the building itself.
5. Interior Courtyard: C/Provença

A brigade of guides take hordes of visitors through here each day. A closer inspection of this first courtyard reveals beautiful mosaics and wall paintings lining a swirling fairytale staircase.
6. Gates

The mastery involved in these huge, wrought-iron gates reveals the influence of Gaudí’s predecessors – four generations of artisan metal-workers. The use of iron is integral to many of Gaudí’s buildings.
7. Temporary Exhibition Room

7. Temporary Exhibition Room

This gallery space, run by the Caixa de Catalunya, holds regular free art exhibitions. It has shown work by Marc Chagall, Salvador Dalí, Francis Bacon and others. The ceiling looks as if it has been coated with whisked egg whites.
8. Interior Courtyard: Pg de Gràcia

8. Interior Courtyard: Pg de Gràcia

Like the first courtyard, here, too, is a grand, ornate staircase. This one is adorned with a stunning, floral ceiling painting.
9. Auditorium

The basement auditorium holds up to 250 people and hosts regular conferences and concerts. The adjacent garden offers a glimpse of greenery.
10. La Pedrera Shop

A wide range of Gaudí-related memorabilia includes replicas of the warrior chimneys in ceramic and bronze.

Practical Information

During the summer months, a terrace bar on the roof (9pm– midnight Fri & Sat) allows visitors to enjoy a drink and live music amid the spectacular surroundings. Reservations essential. See Night-time Hot Spots. For more information on temporary exhibitions held here, check the website of the Caixa de Catalunya ((http://obrasocial.caixacatalunya.es) Passeig de Gracia 92 90 240 09 73 Metro: Diagonal Open: 10am–8pm daily (mid-Jun–late Jul: 9–midnight Fri & Sat with reservation - 90 210 12 12 Guided tours: Mon–Fri tours in English at 4pm Adm: €8; con €4.5 (Free admission to the temporary exhibition space.)