Antonio Gaudi and La Casa Mila

By Isaac Katz and Alexis Rosker

Antonio Gaudi1852-1926

Puerta de la Finca Miralles (1902)

Casa Calvet (1904)

Park Guell (1914)

Colonia Guell (1915)

Sagrada Familia (?)

Casa Batllo (1906)

LA CASA MILA (1910)

Basic Facts

• Built between 1906 and 1910

• Also known as La Pedrera (the quarry)

• Located in Barcelona, Spain

SCIENTIFIC

• Materials: concrete and masonry

• No mathematical analysis• Use of suspended models• Stiffened by changing

complete tension into complete compression; Pillars and arches carry loads

• Exterior walls are not load bearing; used double curvature for stiffness

• Attic supported with many arch members

SOCIAL• Cost of Structure: about

$600,000• Original Purpose: Apartment

Building• Present Purpose: display of

Gaudi’s works in attic; exhibitions on first few floors; private appartments

• Tourism• Problems with construction

due to building code• Surprisingly fits into the

community

SYMBOLIC

• Uniqueness• Elegance• Continuity• Combines aesthetics

with engineering• Icon of Barcelona• Gaudi’s last civil

project

Gaudi vs. Gehry