Sayre RR10 IAR 221

When Modernism Met Naturalism

Casa Mila was built.

Antoni Gaudi's Casa Mila, Barcelona. Built for Dona Rosaria Mila.  1910.

An excellent representation in design, texture and stylizing of what seems to be an apartment complex carved out of a cliff face. This building, which was constructed by architect Antoni Gaudi. Roth's examination tells us that his architecture was interestingly inspired by Moorish ceramic tiles, molded forms based upon curved and thin masonry vaults. It just shows what kind of world is developing as more and more buildings are influenced by that world and creating a mixture of excellently blended architecture. 

When i look at this building i immediately think of some of the ancient Native American cliff dwellings seen in the North American South West, of the Hopi and Anasazi cultures.

Anasazi Dwelling. Photo Credit: Deb 

The Anaszi culture strictly made function an importance in their buildings as can be seen here. I feel that although Gaudi was influenced by his region and the cliffs of Catalonia, the ancient North American buildings share a foundation in that they were both of the natural world. The reasons differ in that the anasazi were influenced due to their lifestyle and Casa Mila and Gaudi due to the modernistic ideals of the time.

   

Casa Mila Balustrade. Tangled Sea kelp?
Photo Credit

This Apartment block represents the region and nature in every aspect. From the weathered looking rock which hides the fact that it is masonry which is holding the building together, to the wrought iron balcony railings which look as if waves had just thrown seaweed on the cliffs. Roth makes these observations also adds that natural light was let in through 4 inner courts. This very much goes against the solid rock that it represents. I would offer that all of these details give the building a baroque feel in that the materials are used in a manner that disregards their atomic make up and causes them to look like the natural world.

In Antoni Gaudi's Casa Mila the replication of nature is taken further than before. Many aspects such as the weathered rock-like facades create a mosaic that represents the region, and thus the importance of the region, to the builder as well as the contractor.