Barcelona Pavilion

A must-see is the Barcelona Pavillon, an emblematic work of the modern movement.

Mies van der Rohe (former director of the Bauhaus) influenced generations of architects with his ideas on simplicity, clarity and harmony in architecture. His contribution to modern architecture is invaluable.

The Mies van der Rohe pavilion today

Today, you can visit the Pavilion, which showcases the work of Mies van der Rohe and has also become a center for research and reflection on contemporary architecture.

The Mies van der Rohe Pavilion is now a monument dedicated to architectural and cultural reflection. It serves as a reference point for architecture students and professionals from all over the world, and also hosts events, conferences and exhibitions.

The pavilion's design has had a major influence on modern architecture, and is often cited as a key example of the International Style. Its principles of clarity, simplicity and harmony have become pillars of modern architectural design.

The Barcelona Pavilion in images

Promoting Modern Architecture: Initiatives of the Mies van der Rohe Foundation.

The Mies van der Rohe Foundation in Barcelona organizes several programs focusing on modern and contemporary architecture. Among the most important is the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture - Mies van der Rohe, a biannual award for architectural excellence in Europe. The Foundation is also dedicated to publicizing the Barcelona Pavilion, a symbol of the Modern Movement designed for the 1929 Universal Exhibition.

It promotes research and debate on modern architecture through conferences, academic collaborations and events. The Foundation also organizes traveling exhibitions on architecture, as well as temporary artistic interventions in the Pavilion. Finally, it publishes books and documentaries to document and disseminate contemporary architectural projects.

History of the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion from 1929 to the present day.

The Mies van der Rohe Pavilion, also known as the German Pavilion or Barcelona Pavilion, is a major landmark of modern architecture.

Its history began in 1929. Designed by German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe with the help of his collaborator, Lilly Reich, the pavilion was built for the 1929 International Exposition in Barcelona. It was the German pavilion for this exhibition.

The pavilion was not intended as a home or workplace, but rather to represent the new Weimar Republic of Germany as a modern, democratic and culturally progressive nation. Its design is characterized by simplicity, an open plan, extensive use of glass, steel and various types of stone, including marble and onyx.

After the Exhibition ended in 1930, the pavilion was dismantled. However, because of its importance in the world of architecture and its significant influence on the modern movement, there was interest in rebuilding it.

However, it was not rebuilt until many years later.

In the 1980s, thanks to the initiative of a group of Catalan architects, a decision was taken to rebuild the pavilion. Architects Oriol Bohigas, Ignasi de Solà-Morales and Cristian Cirici oversaw the reconstruction. The pavilion was rebuilt in its original location, using the original plans and photographs as references.

A video on the life and work of Mies van der Rohe:

A video on the Mies van der Rohe pavilion in Barcelona:

Lilly Reich's collaboration with Mies van der Rohe on this pavilion

Although Lilly Reich was an essential partner to Mies on this and other projects, she has not always received the recognition she deserved in historical accounts, largely due to the predominance of men in the field of architecture at the time. However, recent research and studies are placing greater emphasis on her essential role and contribution to twentieth-century architecture and design. Facts that we are correcting today.

Lilly Reich (1885-1947) was a German designer who worked closely with Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for almost 13 years. Their collaboration began in the 1920s and encompassed several projects, including the famous Barcelona pavilion.

For the Barcelona pavilion, Lilly Reich played a crucial role in the pavilion's interior design. She contributed her expertise in exhibition design, furniture and interior detailing.

Together, Mies and Reich designed some of the most iconic pieces of 20th-century furniture for the pavilion, including the famous Barcelona chair. This chair, with its elegant design in chromed steel and leather, has become one of the most recognized pieces of modernist furniture and is still produced and sold today.

Finally, Lilly Reich had extensive experience in exhibition design and brought this expertise to the project. She contributed to the overall layout, choice of materials and staging of the pavilion's various elements.

The life and work of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe(1886-1969) is one of the most influential architects of the 20th century.

Born in Aachen, Germany, Mies began his architectural career without formal training in architecture. He worked in various architectural offices in Berlin.

Berlin period: In the early 1920s, Mies emerged as one of the leaders of modernism, thanks in part to his role in the Bauhaus movement and his avant-garde designs.

Bauhaus: Mies was the last director of the Bauhaus, Germany's innovative school of art, design and architecture, from 1930 to 1933. Under pressure from the Nazi regime, the Bauhaus closed its doors in 1933.

Emigration to the USA: Faced with the rise of Nazism and after the closure of the Bauhaus, Mies moved to the USA in 1937. He played a crucial role in introducing and adapting modernist ideas in America.

Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT): In Chicago, Mies was appointed head of the architecture department at IIT, where he developed his approach to teaching and designed several buildings for the campus, consolidating his aesthetic of steel and glass.

Post-World War II architecture: Mies became famous for his “Less is more” philosophy. After the war, his designs for steel and glass skyscrapers, such as the Seagram Building in New York, became emblematic.

Notable projects: In addition to the Seagram Building, other notable works include the Lake Shore Drive Apartments in Chicago, the Farnsworth House, and the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin.

Later life: Mies continued to work and teach until his death in 1969 in Chicago.

How to visit the Barcelona Pavilion?

Opening hours of the German Pavilion of the Mies van der Rohe Foundation

Monday to Sunday: 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Closed: December 25, December 26, January 1 and January 6

Address of the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion

Its Catalan name is “El Pavelló Alemany de Barcelona - Fundació Mies van der Rohe”.

Address: Avinguda Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, 7, Sants-Montjuïc 08038 Barcelona, Spain

District: Located in the Montjuïc district, the pavilion is close to the famous sights of Montjuïc hill, such as the Magic Fountain, the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) and the Poble Espanyol.

Email : fundacio@miesbcn.com

Phone : (+34) 93 215 10 11
Official website : Foundation Mies van der Rohe

How to reach the Barcelona Pavilion ?

Barcelona Metro: The nearest metro station is Espanya (lines L1, L3 and L8), about 10 minutes' walk from the pavilion.

Bus: Bus lines 13, 55 and 150 serve the area.
Montjuïc cable car: For a panoramic view, you can take the cable car to Montjuïc hill, then walk to the pavilion.

Hop-on Hop-off Barcelona : The German Pavilion is included in the Bus Turístic route. The red bus route takes you to the Pavilion at the CaixaForum - Pavelló Mies van der Rohe stop. You can also get off at the Poble Espanyol or MNAC stop, and you'll be just a few steps from the Pavilion.

Where is the Barcelona Pavilion ?