Last Resident Living in Gaudí's Iconic Casa Milà

Ana Viladomiu, a 70-year-old writer, occupies a unique position in the world of architecture and heritage preservation. She holds the distinction of being the last residential tenant of Casa Milà, Antoni Gaudí's magnificent modernist masterpiece located on Barcelona's prestigious Passeig de Gràcia. For nearly four decades, Viladomiu has called this UNESCO World Heritage site her home, an arrangement that grants her both extraordinary privilege and remarkable responsibility as a living guardian of one of Spain's most celebrated architectural achievements.

The prospect of residing in an expansive, exquisitely designed apartment created by one of history's most visionary architects would captivate most people. The location itself—on Spain's most expensive street—would normally command astronomical rental prices in today's real estate market. Yet Viladomiu's tenure comes with an exceptionally favorable arrangement: she maintains her right to occupy the residence until her death at a rental rate that remains remarkably modest by any standard, let alone for such an iconic property in such a prime location.

What makes Viladomiu's story even more remarkable is her distinction as the last tenant in any of Gaudí's buildings. This status elevates her role from simply being a fortunate resident to becoming, in essence, a living custodian of architectural history. The only other long-term occupants of Gaudí's structures are the peregrine falcons that have established their nests within the Sagrada Família, the architect's unfinished basilica that continues to draw millions of visitors annually from around the globe.

Casa Milà, originally called La Pedrera—meaning