Barcelona Pavilion

Barcelona Pavilion by Mies van der Rohe

Widely viewed as "the most beautiful building of the twentieth century," Mies van der Rohe's Pavilion was built in Barcelona for the International Exposition of 1929. The building was used for the official opening of the German section of the exposition. Notable for its simple form and luxurious materials--marble and travertine--the Pavilion also inspired Mies' most famous piece of furniture--the Barcelona chair. (I've always loved the look of the Barcelona chair, even though it's become a virtual staple for Midtown lobbies.) I remember reading about the Barcelona Pavilion my sophomore year of college in a 20th Century Architecture class. I was struck then--as I am today--by simultaneous simplicity and extravagance of the structure. Whether working on interiors or exteriors, the task of the designer is to incorporate these two qualities to achieve a sense of balance. Perhaps Mies is so revered today because he is able to do precisely this and make the entire endeavor look perfectly seamless.