Mies van der Rohe: The 1929 Barcelona German Pavilion
Mies van der Rohe: Master of Modern Architecture
Mies van der Rohe was a German-American architect and one of the most important masters of modern architecture. He is likely the greatest exponent of the twentieth century in the construction of steel and glass. Born on March 27, 1886, in Aachen, Germany, he was formed as a collaborator in the studios of the architect and designer Bruno Paul (from 1905 to 1907) and the pioneering industrial architect Peter Behrens (from 1908 to 1911). In 1912, he opened his own studio in Berlin. He died on August 17, 1969, in Chicago.
The German Pavilion at the 1929 Barcelona Exhibition
The German Pavilion was designed by Mies van der Rohe (1886–1969) as the national representation of Germany for the International Exhibition in Barcelona in 1929, held on Montjuïc. The Barcelona Pavilion, a symbolic work of the modern movement, has been exhaustively studied and interpreted, while the play has inspired several generations of architects.
Design Principles and Modern Materials
The building is characterized by its:
- Simplicity of geometric forms
- Refined adaptation of classic building materials
- A mixture between the old way of viewing materials and their adequate combination in a modern world
Within the precincts of the international exhibition, the site of the German Pavilion was chosen by the architect in a place a little apart, outside the main focus of the exhibition where large buildings were built for the occasion.
History and Reconstruction of the Pavilion
At the close of the Exhibition, the Pavilion was disassembled in 1930. With time, it became a key reference in both the trajectory of Mies van der Rohe and for the entire twentieth-century architecture. The meaning and knowledge of the Pavilion led to thoughts about its possible reconstruction.
In 1980, Oriol Bohigas prompted this project from the Delegation of Barcelona's Urban Planning Department. Architects Ignasi de Solà-Morales, Cristian Cirici, and Fernando Ramos were appointed to research, design, and direct the reconstruction of the Pavilion. The work started in 1983, and the new building opened in 1986 at its original location to commemorate the centennial of Mies.
Functional Aspects and Legacy
The Pavilion was designed to accommodate the official reception presided over by King Alfonso XIII with the German authorities. It embodies all the ideas of the nascent modern movement with more freedom than in other works. Its function was to spread new ideas and promote the use of new materials and construction techniques.