Mies van der Rohe's Barcelona Pavilion: Design & History

German Pavilion: Barcelona, 1929

Key Information

• Architect: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
• Timeline: 1929
• Location: Barcelona, Spain
• Architectural Style: Rationalism
• Materials Used: Stone (marble, onyx, granite), stainless steel, glass

Architectural Analysis

Structural Elements

The structure is supported by eight very small, cruciform stainless steel pillars, chromed on the exterior, which hold the flat roof. The remaining walls primarily serve to define and separate functional spaces, rather than bearing load.

Roofing System

The pavilion is covered by a flat, horizontal roof. One corner is slightly offset, creating a cantilever, while the other side remains open, enhancing the sense of lightness and openness.

Interior Design

The building's design creates a fluid, open-plan space, characterized by a lack of clear geometric references and a predominance of straight lines in the floor plan. Spaces are distributed according to functional needs. The design blurs the boundary between interior and exterior spaces, as there are no distinct markers to delimit them.

Notable interior elements include the iconic "Barcelona" chairs and sofas, designed by Van der Rohe himself. These pieces, with their white, tinted leather and minimalist form, served as thrones for King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenie during the exhibition's inauguration. A rich variety of materials is used throughout, notably onyx, which serves both decorative and partitioning purposes for both interior and exterior elements.

Site Integration

The building is situated atop a podium, accessed via steps. Outside, a large space features a reflective pond. The low-slung building conveys a strong sense of horizontality. Its design emphasizes an absence of superfluous decoration; instead, the building materials themselves serve as the primary decorative elements. Travertine is prominently used for the podium and surrounding areas.

Design Principles: Rationalism & Bauhaus

Precedents and Influences

Precedents for Van der Rohe's style include Adolf Loos and Walter Gropius (founder of the Bauhaus school). The pavilion's style originates from the Bauhaus school and is deeply rooted in architectural rationalism.

Principles of Architectural Rationalism

Rationalism is based on the idea of rationally utilizing all available forms. Key principles of architectural rationalism include:

• Purity of forms, with a predominance of straight lines.
• Lack of superfluous decoration; the building material itself becomes the decoration.
• Free-flowing floor plans.
• Buildings designed to a human dimension.
• Integration of buildings into their rural or urban surroundings.
• Emphasis on urban planning based on rational principles.

Rationalism holds significant power in contemporary urban design; without it, the face of our cities today would be vastly different.

Historical Context and Significance

Contextual Factors

Contextual factors directly influenced the work's creation. Germany, having lost World War I, had established a republic seeking to regenerate the country. It aimed to present a modern and stable image to the world, a vision perfectly embodied by this architectural work.

After World War I, rationalism developed from the Bauhaus school of architecture and applied arts in Germany, which operated between 1919 and 1933, the year it was closed by the Nazis. This school, fundamental to 20th-century architecture and design, was led during its 14-year existence by architects Walter Gropius, Hannes Meyer, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. After its closure, many of its teachers relocated to the U.S. to continue their work freely.

Purpose and Reconstruction

The original pavilion was used to represent the Weimar Republic at the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition. It symbolized the aspirations of a new Germany. The original building was demolished after the exhibition. However, it was reconstructed with utmost fidelity in the same location in 1986, and now serves as a significant architectural landmark and exhibition space dedicated to Mies van der Rohe's work.