There was considerable interest in the construction of Casa Mila and various reports about it were published, such as the piece in L'Edificació Moderna, magazine, the publication of the construction employers’ association.
The article stated that Gaudi was determined to meet the needs of modern life “without the nature of the materials or their resistance being an obstacle that limits his freedom of action”, and it described the structure of columns as an innovation that would result in large and well-lit spaces.
The construction of the building was complex and was fraught with financial and legal problems. Nor was it free from controversy. Gaudi kept changing his projects to shape the appearance the structures of the building as the work advanced. He went well over the expected budget and did not abide by the City Council’s building codes: the built volume was illegal; the attic and the rooftop exceeded the permitted maximums; and one of the pillars of the façade occupied part of the pavement on Passeig de Gràcia.
When Gaudi discovered that an inspector had been by to alert the builder, Mr. Bayó, to these illegalities, he left very precise instructions. If the inspector came back and the column had to be cut, Gaudi would have a plaque put up, stating “the section of column that is missing was cut at the order of the City Council”.
In the end, the Eixample Commission certified that the building was a monument in nature and did not need to conform strictly to the municipal bylaws. Even so, the Milàs had to pay a fine of 100,000 pesetas to legalise the building.
The Milàs argued with Gaudi over his fees and they even went to court over them. Gaudi won the case and Roser Segimon had to mortgage Casa Mila to pay the architect, who donated the compensation to a convent of nuns.
Pilar of the Pesseig de Gràcia façade that was the subject of an official complaint made by Barcelona City council
Casa Milà - 1909
