The vanished ceilings of La Pedrera

La Pedrera is a one-of-a-kind building by Gaudí, standing out structurally, functionally and aesthetically. It is undisputed that Antoni Gaudí meticulously designed the ceilings of Casa Milà to be unique and extraordinary.

In the main floor residence of the Milà family, Roser Segimon renovated much of the decoration after Gaudí’s death in 1926. However, some original sculpted stone columns with ornamental motifs and inscriptions, as well as fragments of the ceilings, still remain. These fragments echo the flowing, undulating rhythms seen on the building’s façade.

The main apartment’s ceiling

A photograph from the Joaquim Gomis collection provides a glimpse of the destroyed ceilings and interior decoration. The photograph in question was featured in the volume Gaudí-La Pedrera, with text by Michel Tapié, as part of the “Fotoscop de Gaudí” collection published by Polígrafa in 1971. The volume included images from various archives as well as original works by Joaquim Gomis, though their exact sources were not specified.

This photograph depicts portions of the destroyed ceilings and interior decorations of Casa Milà. It is a highly significant document that, despite being published before, had largely gone unnoticed. The image clearly showcases the craftsmanship of the plaster ceiling and the partition mouldings connecting it to the ceiling. It offers valuable insight into the appearance of the rooms in the owners’ main floor apartment, which spanned 1,300 square metres.

This photographic discovery is further supported by documents from Josep Bayó, the builder of La Pedrera. These include an estimate dated 23 March 1927, presented to Roser Segimon, wife of Pere Milà, for the renovation of the main floor. Gaudí scholar Joan Bassegoda referenced these renovations in an article published in La Vanguardia on 12 December 2001. Now, for the first time, the original documents preserved by the Gaudí Chair are available for public view.

The renovation involved demolishing 532.50 square metres of ceilings, with new construction designed by decorator Modest Castañé i Lloret.

The affected areas were the ballroom, the hall and vestibule (and their mezzanines), the study, the living room, the dining room, the bedroom and corridor. In addition to the ceilings, parquet floors and shutters were removed, and 20 doors and windows were replaced.

The total renovation cost was 19,481.25 pesetas, allocated as follows: 4,458.85 pesetas for demolitions and 15,022.35 pesetas for new construction.

In summary, and as stated in the attached document:

“Estimate for the works to be carried out on the main floor of the house of Mrs Rosario de Milá.

Demolitions

Demolish mezzanines, ceilings, remove the llatas (wooden frames) from the ceilings, strip the llatas from the parquet floors and plasterwork, dismantle the hall staircase, disconnect pipes and electrical conduits, demolish all partitions, move doors and glass panels to the basements and clear away debris.

New construction

Build partition walls and brick pillars as indicated in the plans provided by Director Mr Castañé.

Install llatas for the ceilings, arches and beams, place glasswork for the façade and the ballroom, fit boxes for roll-up blinds, install llatas for parquet flooring and complete plasterwork. Construct a new staircase in the hall and install its llatas. Create grooves for electrical wiring, bell conduits and lead pipes.”

These documents, presented here for the first time, reveal the date and extent of the destruction endured by parts of Gaudí’s original decoration on the main floor. They also help identify the different rooms affected. We will continue the search for more interior images to fully reconstruct the layout and decoration of the main floor.