Spatial Analysis of the German Pavilion in Barcelona

Germany Pavilion of Barcelona World Expo

(Germany Pavilion of Barcelona International Expo)

Designed by L. Mies van der Rohe, it was built in 1929 and was demolished after the World Expo.

The German Pavilion covers an area of about 50 meters long and 25 meters wide. It consists of a main hall, two attached rooms, two pools and several walls. There are no other exhibits except a few tables and chairs. Its purpose is to show a new architectural space effect and treatment method embodied in the building itself.

This building is one of the first achievements of modernist architecture. It breaks through the closed and isolated indoor space inevitably caused by the traditional masonry load-bearing structure, and adopts an open and continuous space division method. The main hall supports a flat reinforced concrete roof with eight steel columns with nickel-plated cross sections. Because the wall is not load-bearing, it can be arranged freely one by one, forming some separated and connected spaces, which are connected and interspersed with each other to guide the flow of people and make people feel rich spatial changes during the March.

The German Pavilion has also broken through the traditional methods of manual carving and decorative effect in the treatment of architectural forms, and mainly relies on new building materials such as steel and glass to express its fluent, straight, accurate and novel beauty, as well as the beauty of the texture and texture of the materials themselves. The wall is connected to the ceiling, and the glass wall also extends from the ground to the ceiling. Unlike the traditional treatment method, there is no need for transition or connection, so it gives people a concise and lively impression. The building uses limestone, onyx stone, glass and carpet with different colors and textures, showing a luxurious style.

The German Pavilion has created a new successful experience in the division of architectural space and the treatment of architectural forms, which fully embodies the famous saying of designer Mies van der Rohe that "less is more" and has created rich artistic effects with new materials and construction methods.