Barcelona 2014 - Barcelona Pavilion

Barcelona Pavilion is one of the most emblematic works of modern architecture. Designed by Modernist master Mies van der Rohe, it was the German Pavilion for the 1929 International Expo in Barcelona. Mies also designed all the furniture in the building - many of which have become collectors' items. Simple yet stunning, this building is considered one of the most perfect examples of Modernist Architecture - possibly still unequal in its supreme minimalism and perfection in execution. 

To understand the importance of this building - it needs to be put into its historical context. The Modernist language may seem quite familiar nowadays, but in the 1920s, the Art Deco style was all the rage in Europe and America, and Neo-Classicism was still a very popular style for residential and public architecture. Elaborate decorations were still a sign of quality and prestige in architecture. To suddenly see something like the Barcelona Pavilion - totally free of the usual architectural frills - must have been a shock to many. It was a building that pointed to a new direction in architecture which was to take over the World after the 2nd World War. 

To an architect, no visit to Barcelona would be complete without visiting the Barcelona Pavilion. This is truly a modern masterpiece that needs to be experienced in person.