Barcelona Pavilion

The Barcelona Pavilion designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, was the GermanPavilion for the 1929 International Exposition in Barcelona, Spain.This building was used for the official opening of the German section of the exhibition. It is an important building in the history of modern architecture, known for its simple form and its spectacular use of extravagant materials, such as marble, red onyx and travertine.

Concept

The pavilion for the Universal Exhibition was supposed to represent the new Weimar Germany: democratic, culturally progressive, prospering, and thoroughly pacifist; a self-portrait through architecture. The Commissioner, Georg von Schnitzler said it should give "voice to the spirit of a new era". This concept was carried out with the realization of the "Free plan" and the "Floating room".

The single story building has no real function--it is the exhibit. The plan is asymmetric and fluid with a continuous flow of space. Wall partitions are made of both transparent and opaque glass as well as highly polished marble. The low flat roof is supported by delicate metal supports. As has often been noted, the building has a kind of classical serenity.

Reference

http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Barcelona_Pavilion.html
http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/spain/barcelona/mies/pavilion.html
http://inceptor.mcs.suffolk.edu/~goldenth/hw5/mies1.html