Which architect designed the Barcelona Pavilion for the 1929 International Exposition?

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed the Barcelona Pavilion for the 1929 International Exposition. The pavilion, formally Germany’s exhibition building, became a landmark of modern architecture because of its open plan, precise geometry, and restrained use of luxurious materials.

Mies worked with designer and architect Lilly Reich on the project. The building used a steel frame, glass, and planes of marble, red onyx, and travertine arranged so that walls appear to flow through the interior rather than form a conventional enclosed box. Its famous principle, “less is more,” is strongly associated with Mies’s architectural thinking.

The original pavilion was dismantled in 1930 after the exposition. Because of its lasting influence, a reconstruction was built on the original site in 1986. The building also introduced the Barcelona chair, designed by Mies and Reich, which remains one of the best-known pieces of modernist furniture. A common mix-up is to credit Mies alone without mentioning Reich’s important collaboration.