Ana Viladomiu, a 70-year-old writer, is the last remaining tenant of Antoni Gaudí’s Casa Milà (La Pedrera) in Barcelona, a UNESCO World Heritage site that receives about a million visitors annually. She has lived in the luminous apartment since 1988, originally moving in with her then-husband Fernando Amat, owner of the iconic design store Vinçon. Viladomiu holds a rare renta antigua (fixed-rent contract) that allows her to stay until she or Amat dies, after which the not-for-profit foundation managing the building will take ownership. The rest of the building now houses offices and cultural event spaces.
This story matters because it highlights the tension between architectural heritage preservation and everyday life, as well as the vanishing legacy of Spain's renta antigua system, which stopped issuing new contracts in 1985 but still affects an estimated 100,000 households. Viladomiu's unique position as the sole resident of a major tourist attraction offers a rare human perspective on living inside a modernist masterpiece, while also drawing attention to the broader issues of housing, heritage management, and the commercialization of iconic buildings.