FIRST ADVENTURE OF 2015--LA PEDRERA

Greetings,

We started off the new year with an adventure today--La Pedrera.  Read a little bit about it at the website below.

https://www.lapedrera.com/en/home

And here is an excerpt from Wikipedia.

Casa Milà (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈkəzə miˈɫa], Spanish pronunciation: [ˈkasa miˈla]), also known as La Pedrera(pronounced: [ɫə pəˈðɾeɾə], meaning the 'The Quarry'), is a modernist building in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was the last civil work designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí and it was built between the years 1906 and 1910.

It was commissioned in 1912 by businessman Pere Milà i Camps and his wife Roser Segimon i Artells. At the time, it was very controversial because of the bold undulating stone facade and twisted wrought iron balconies and windows, designed mostly by Josep Maria Jujol.

Architecturally it is considered an innovative work by having a structure of columns and floors free of load bearing walls. Similarly, the front – which is made of stone – is also self-supporting. Another innovative element was the construction of the underground garage.

In 1984, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is currently the headquarters of the Fundació-Catalunya La Pedrera, which manages the various exhibitions and activities done there and the public visits.

Enjoy the pics...

Love from Spain,

Ellie and Gary

BELOW:  Looking into the interior courtyard from the rooftop.  Gaudi believed that nature should inspire all.  The art structures/sculptures on the roof cover vents and other items such as air-conditionioner, etc.  Today the La Pedrera is a world heritage site and is still a functioning apartment complex.  It also houses businesses as well.  

BELOW:  Hallway just below the rooftop.  

​BELOW:  Looking up from the first floor from the interior courtyard foyer.

BELOW:  On the rooftop Gaudi used broken champagne bottles for his mosaic work.

BELOW:  Can you see La Sagrada Familia in the distance?

BELOW:  Gaudi inspired purses for sale.

BELOW:   On the floor just below the rooftop there was an exhibit that explained how Gaudi's love of nature inspired his building designs.  

BELOW:  After our tour we found a gorgeous restaurant and had dinner.  Below is my dessert--sumptuous!  Pineapple and mango ravioli with a crystalized top and leeche soup with green apples....magnificent....

BELOW:  Then we wandered around and got lost, found that we were in the El Gothic district and found this bright store.  The purses (leather) nothing fancy are 200 Euros and with every bag purchase you get matching (or not) shoes.  Another new fashion statement......