La pedrera (Mila House) is a masterpiece of its architect Antoni Gaudí. It is an apartment building with three façades that are integrated in a single body thanks to the waves formed by the curved volumes an the railings of de many balconies. It was originally conveived as a huge monument to the Virgin Mary, whose image was to crown it, but the political circumstances of the time (the so-called Tragic Week) led the propietor, Pere Mila i Camps, to think that it would be better to avoid possible troubles by not installing the image.
The Barcelonans soon christened the building with the name by which it would be know after 1912, when its constructions was completed: La Pedrera (the Stone Quarry). This ironic designation reflects the lack of understanding, the mockery and the criticism of the cartoonists and writers of the time.Perhaps the most surprising feature of La Pedrera is the roof terrace, which is decorated with a unique set of chimney stacks (called “scrarewithces”)
Gaudí was also commissioned to design the building’s interior, including everything from the interior spaces and forniture to the smallest details, such as chimneys, handrails and door knobs. The architect suprised everyone by doing away with the residents stairway, so the homes could only bw reached by means of the lift or the service stairway. Another innovations was the placement of the stables in the basement, wich was reached by helicoid ramps.
Antoni Gaudí took a comprehensive view of architecture so he also designed all the furniture of each of the dwelling that he built.
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