Every architectural building is complex, whether it seems so or not. There are many elements and factors that influence an architect's design. The architect must think about the functionality and sustainability of buildings, all those that can be influenced by environmental and social contexts. The architect's beliefs, heritage and experience also influence the design of their work. All of these factors can be analyzed to determine how and why a building was created. It is evident that Antoni Gaudi put a lot of effort into designing Casa Mila in Barcelona, ​​Spain. There are many details of Casa Mila, as previously mentioned in the observation document, that can be broken down to better understand how and why each choice was made. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay Antoni Gaudi was commissioned by the Mila family to create an apartment complex in Barcelona, ​​Spain. Mrs. Mila was particularly interested in having Antoni Gaudi design the condominium because she was fascinated by the Art Nouveau style that was conquering Europe. Antoni Gaudi has been recognized for having Art Nouveau influences in his work. At that time he had almost finished building Casa Batlló, another apartment building on the same street as Casa Milà. Art Nouveau is an artistic style movement originating in Europe. His influence could be seen in jewelry, furniture, sculpture, architecture and more. It was particularly popular between 1900 and 1905, the same period that Mrs. Mila commissioned Antoni Gaudi to design Casa Mila. Indeed, photographs of the completed Casa Mila show the influence of Art Nouveau. Art Nouveau is known for its focus on aesthetic display, abstract design, and visual excess. There are so many elements outside and inside that it may be difficult for viewers to understand them all at once. An important feature of Art Nouveau is the whiplash curve, a complex design dominated by curves3. This common feature is present on the exterior and interior of Gaudi's Casa Mila. Outside you can see the whiplash curves on the balconies. The dark iron work is dominated by organic shapes and narrow, irregular curves, which change direction without a clear pattern. The design is intricate and complex, just as you would expect from the whiplash curves of Art Nouveau. The interior also features these special curves on the white plaster ceilings as well as on the railings and other fixtures made with the same dark iron work seen from the outside.Casa Mila was intended to be an apartment complex where the Mila family would reside, as well as future tenants. Therefore, Antoni Gaudi had to meet both artistic and functional standards. Gaudi had to keep in mind the needs of his patron and future residents. There are several worthy features of the building that allow residents to live comfortably and enjoy their living space. The most obvious feature seen from the outside of Casa Milà is the abundance of windows. Windows are important to a living space, allowing light and air into the roof, protecting inhabitants from unwanted weather conditions and giving them a view of city life outside. The curvature of the building allows each resident to have a unique view out their window. Gaudi's choice to have the external curves slightly raised, so as to create a recessed window, allows residents to have some cover or shade from rain or sun. Balconies are also very popular incondominiums. The unique iron balcony railings serve to protect residents from falls, but also serve as a decorative element. The inclusion of courtyards in the interior design of the building is a unique part of the building. From the outside there is no sign of the courtyard, it is completely hidden from the outside world. When visitors enter through the main entrance to the entrance, they may be surprised to find that they have gone from being outside to coming in, all while being outside because they are in the courtyard. Gaudi blurs the line between inside and outside and offers a unique living experience to those who find themselves at Casa Mila4. The apartment windows line the interior walls of the courtyard. The position of the windows is different from that of the external windows. They are aligned more regularly. The regular alignment of the window combined with the circular shape of the courtyard creates a vertical emphasis, prompting visitors to look upward. As they look up they see the sky and are reminded of the unique space they are in. The courtyard offers a living space to get some fresh air and allows more light to enter the rooms of the apartment, making the space feel more open. The circular shape of the courtyard means that the windows of the apartments face each other. This gives residents a sense of community, where they can open windows and talk to neighbors if they want. At night, the backyard can serve as a space to relax and stargaze. Since Casa Mila was and still is an apartment complex, it may not be surprising that a garage was built in the basement. However, it is surprising that the gate for cars is the same iron gate for visitors on foot, but with different openings. This is the same entrance that flows into the courtyard, the main entrance. In the courtyard there is also the staircase connecting to the second floor. These stairs seem to blend well with the wall, placing themselves on the periphery and leaving the visitor's attention at the center of the courtyard. They have iron railings, vertical columns and planters. In the second courtyard there is another flight of stairs, but this time without a railing. There are green plants whose long vines hang over the edges of the staircase. The stairs have the function of connecting the first and second floors. It is unique because it is the only staircase inside the courtyard, the other floors do not have the same connection. The ladder is also equipped with a canopy that protects those using the ladder from rain. These two staircases were reserved for the use of the Mila family. Since they lived on the first and second floors, the staircase allowed easy access to the rooms. For the other residents of Casa Mila, access to the rooms of the apartment was via the elevator. By building an elevator instead of stairs, Gaudi was able to make more space for the courtyards. Some may see Casa Mila's roof as simply an art exhibit, with little functional value. However, like everything else, Gaudi designed the roof not only to make a statement, but also to provide a space to serve residents. The roof serves residents directly and indirectly. The roof is famous for its tall sculpted figures, which peer from the roof to those on the ground. They are placed in different areas of the roof outlining the corners of the roof and some near the courtyard openings. The figures are not just statues, they are chimneys and vents. During cold winter nights, residents can light the fireplace and let the smoke flow through the chimney. Some of the sculpted figures also support the exits of the stairs. This is a perfect example of Gaudi's multipurpose designs. The roof can also be characterized by its curved changes in elevation. The visitor would expect nothing less from the roof after having already experienced the rest of the building and havingcaptured the curved theme of the building. These elevation changes can allow for unique vantage points over the city and also a unique viewpoint of the rest of the rooftop. There are also some concrete arches. On the roof, visitors can see and appreciate another Gaudi work, La Sagrada Familia, as one of these arches clearly outlines La Sagrada Familia in the distance. Due to the change in elevation, Gaudi included steps that allow users to easily walk onto the roof. This place was probably a favorite among young children, it resembled a playground. Since the courtyard openings are in the center of the roof, a large fence was used along the contour of the courtyards to protect people from falling. This fence is transparent, allowing visitors to still look into the yard if they wish, while still being safe from falls. At night the rooftop offers another unique space to look up to the sky and gaze at the stars or to look outside and enjoy the city lights. The penthouse also showcases a multipurpose design within Casa Mila. From the outside it may not be clear that this is an attic. On the outside of the building there are small awning windows located along the attic and in the upper part of the courtyards. These windows were placed to regulate the temperature of the building. When it's hot, the windows ventilate the building to cool it. When it is cold, windows retain heat and heat the building10. The attic also served as the servants' quarters when the Mila family lived there11. Some parts of the attic were transformed into apartments by another architect, Barba Corsini, while the rest houses the Espai Gaudi12 exhibition. The interior of the attic is filled with brick arches, which follow one another to create an atrium. The attic rooms are dark because less light enters from the small curtained windows. The attic shows how Gaudi's work was also influenced by his past. Antoni Gaudi spent much of his life in Catalonia, Spain, dominated by historic Catalan Gothic and Romanesque architecture. When he was young, together with two other boys, they drew up plans for the restoration of the Poblet Monastery, an important building for Catalan medievalists. He attended the Barcelona School of Architecture and often visited the city's medieval sites. The arches in the attic reflect the popular arches seen in Catalan Gothic architecture. These arches are called catenary arches. They are parabolic diaphragm arches that provide greater support and eliminate the need for buttresses. As much as Gaudi wanted his building to stand out, he had other factors to consider. It had to take into account the natural and built environment. Casa Mila was built on Pasco de Gracia, an avenue with other modernist buildings. People wouldn't be so surprised that another modernist building was added to the avenue, because there were many others before. Barcelona is known for its square grid plan, which meant that Gaudi had a defined space where his building would be, in which there would be two other buildings next to it. He also had to keep the building at approximately the same height as the other buildings to preserve its cohesion. Casa Mila is also a building located on the corner of a block, so the project had to adapt to this. It's also located in the city, so he had to find a way to make residents feel comfortable and forget about the noise outside. As discussed, its unique courtyards allow residents to open the windows and take a break from the city noise. Since his building had to be built in the city, Gaudi didn't have to worry much about the natural environment except the weather, which isn't bad in Barcelona anyway. Keep in mind: this is.