Mies van der Rohe’s German Pavilion: A Rationalist Masterpiece
German Pavilion: A Masterpiece of Rationalism
Architect: Mies van der Rohe
Date: 1929
Location: Barcelona
Style: Architectural Rationalism
Materials Used: Stone (marble, onyx, granite), stainless steel, glass
System: Industrial materials
Formal Analysis
Supporting Elements
The structure features eight cruciform stainless steel pillars, chrome-plated on the exterior, supporting the flat roof. The remaining walls serve to separate functions and create supportive spaces.
Roof Elements
The pavilion is covered by a flat, horizontal roof, slightly offset at one corner to create a cantilever and an open-air space.
Interior Spaces
The building’s essence lies in its open plan, lacking clear geometrical references. The layout emphasizes straight lines, with spaces distributed according to functional needs.
Indoor-Outdoor Blend
The boundary between indoor and outdoor spaces is blurred, creating a seamless transition.
The interior features the iconic “Barcelona” chairs and sofas, designed by van der Rohe himself. These empty, white, tinted-skin chairs served as thrones for King Alfonso XIII and Queen during the exhibition. The pavilion showcases a wealth of materials, including onyx, used for decoration and enclosure, both inside and out.
The building sits atop a podium, accessible via stairs. A large space with a reflecting pool enhances the sense of horizontality. The absence of overt decoration allows the building materials themselves to serve as decorative elements, particularly the travertine.
Architectural Style
Mies van der Rohe, along with Walter Gropius and Adolf Loos (founder of the Bauhaus school), pioneered architectural rationalism. This style emphasizes the rational use of existing forms, prioritizing purity of form and minimizing superfluous decoration. The building materials themselves become the decoration.
Key principles of rationalism include:
- Free-flowing plans
- Human-scaled constructions
- Integration of buildings within their environment (rural or urban)
Urban planning based on rationalist principles is crucial in contemporary urban design, shaping the face of modern cities.
Interpretation and Context
Historical Context
Germany, having lost World War I and established the Weimar Republic, sought to regenerate its image. The pavilion aimed to showcase a modern and progressive nation, a vision that van der Rohe successfully captured.
Rationalism developed from the Bauhaus, a German school of architecture and applied arts active from 1919 to 1933. This school, directed by Walter Gropius, Hannes Meyer, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, profoundly influenced 20th-century architecture and design. After its closure by the Nazis, many of its teachers emigrated to the U.S., continuing their work in freedom.
Pavilion’s Function
The pavilion served to represent the Weimar Republic at the exhibition and currently serves as the headquarters of the Mies van der Rohe Foundation.
Content and Significance
The pavilion, originally created for the Universal Exhibition, was reconstructed with utmost fidelity in 1986 by architects Christian Cirici, Fernando Ramos, and Ignacio de Solà-Morales after the original building was demolished. It symbolizes the values of the new Germany: rationality, austerity, transparency, and completeness.