German Pavilion

German Pavilion

Architect:	Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Year(s) of construction:	1928-1929
Location:	Barcelona, Spain
Coordinates:	41° 22' 14" N, 2° 9' 0" E See on the Map

Sponsor:

Most parts of this article have been translated using the Google automatic translate engine.

Please excuse any mistakes this translation might have and feel free to correct them if you wish to collaborate with our project.

Introduction

The German pavilion, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, was the flag to represent Germany for the International Exhibition held in Barcelona in 1929. The Pavilion is designed to accommodate the official reception presided over by King Alfonso XIII with the German authorities.

The flag was removed after exposure, but in time this book became a key reference for the architectural history of the twentieth century, as well as the history of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, that is why it began in 1980 to take shape in the council the idea of reconstructing the building in its original location. The work began in 1983, and reconstruction opened in 1986.

Meaning

This is an important building in the history of modern architecture, as it reflected the ideas of the then nascent Modern Movement with more freedom than in other works, as this building had no role to disseminate these new ideas and the use of new materials and techniques in construction.

The overall impression is of a luxurious space created by perpendicular planes in three dimensions. Completed the work a sculpture by Georg Kolbe, a small furniture chairs made up with a design architect named Barcelona chair (which is an important milestone in the history of furniture design of the twentieth century), and a red curtain and a black carpet, which combined with the yellowing of the marble wall of the shapes the colors of the German flag.

Materials

Glass, steel and four different types of marble (Roman travertine, green marble from the Alps, ancient green marble from Greece and onyx doré Atlas) were the materials used in reconstruction. All of the same characteristics and origin as those used initially in 1929.

Structure

The structure consisted of eight steel pillars in the form of cross holding a flat roof. Completed the work some interior walls, free of the structure

The Barcelona chair

Barcelona chair with feet resting

Mies van der Rohe designed especially for the Pavilion, a chair made of leather and metal, over time, became an icon of modern design.

Proof of this is that the Barcelona chair is a model that is still produced and marketed at present.

Georg Kolbe The sculpture

Sculpture German flag

The sculpture is a bronze reproduction of the title that made Dawn Georg Kolbe, a contemporary artist Mies van der Rohe.

Is brilliantly situated on the edge of the small pond, in a place where not only is reflected in the water but also in marble and glass, giving the impression that multiplies in the space and contrasting with their curved lines geometric purity the building.