Explore Casa Mila in Barcelona | Highlights, Visitor's Guide & More

La Pedrera, or Casa Mila, is a popular modernist building in Barcelona designed by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí. The building, completed in 1912, is unique due to its stone facade, wrought-iron balconies, and other features.

History of Casa Mila In A Nutshell

June 1905 - Attracted by the growing popularity of Passeig de Gràcia, the newly-married Rosario Segimón i Artells and Pere Milà i Camps buy a house measuring 1,835 square metres at number 92 2. They commissioned architect Antoni Gaudi to construct the building.

February 1906 - Construction begins after the project is approved by the Barcelona City Council.

December 1907 - Barcelona City Council complained the façade occupies part of the pavement on Passeig de Gràcia. It asked the owners to pay a fine of 100,000 pesetas or demolish the attic and the rooftop a year later.

December 1909 - July 1910 - Casa Billa received the building permit thanks to the Eixample Commission certifying the building is a monument in nature.

October 1911 - Barcelona City Council granted occupancy permission for the main floor after Gaudi certified the construction of the main floor was completed.

October 1912 - Gaudi signs another certificate, declaring the construction was over and occupants could move in.

1929 - Mosella Tailor’s shop became the first retail establishment to open on the Casa Mila grounds.

1936 - United Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSUC) seized Casa Milla, with the building housing the Catalan Ministry of the Economy and Agriculture during the Civil War. Minister Joan Comorera occupied the main floor as his private home.

1946 - Rosario Segimón sold Casa Mila to the Immobiliària Provença real estate company. However, she lived on the main floor until she died in 1964.

1953 - Immobiliària Provença commissioned Francisco Juan Barba Corsini to convert the building’s attic into 13 flats and the first floor of Carrer de Provença into four small apartments.

October 1962 - Casa Mila was included in the Artistic Heritage list drawn up by the Spanish government to preserve the sites and monuments in Barcelona.

August 1969 - Casa Mila was registered as a Historical and Artistic Monument of National Interest.

November 1984 - UNESCO listed Casa Mila as a World Heritage Site.

June 1996 - Casa Mila was restored and handed over to Barcelona.

2002 - Casa Mila held Gaudi. Art and Design event to mark the International Gaudí Year.

December 2012 - The hundredth anniversary of Casa Mila’s construction was commemorated with cultural and artistic events.

Who Built Casa Mila?

Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí built Casa Mila, ushering in a new architectural movement. He pushed the boundaries of art and design, with his distinctive style focused on organic forms, details, and harmonious integration with nature. Casa Mila is one of Gaudí's renowned masterpieces, but his other works, such as the Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlló, are equally popular.

Architecture & Design of Casa Mila

Casa Mila is one of Antoni Gaudí and Barcelona’s iconic masterpieces. The UNESCO World Heritage Site, completed in 1912, brought a new way of architectural thinking, making Gaudí popular worldwide.

The building’s most striking feature is its undulating façade adorned with limestone mosaics, giving it a distinct and organic appearance. Gaudi designed it so because he wanted the building’s exterior to reflect the ruggedness of natural rock formations. It earned the building the nickname "La Pedrera," meaning "The Quarry."

The inner courtyard is filled with natural light like most parts of Casa Mila’s interior. Gaudi designed the building to maximise natural light and ventilation, with numerous skylights and courtyards throughout.