Mies van der Rohe's 1929 German Pavilion for the Barcelona World's Fair — exposed travertine, marble, chrome, water. Reconstructed 1986.
The Barcelona Pavilion is a structure designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich. It was originally built as the German Pavilion for the 1929 International Exposition in Barcelona, Catalonia, 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. The original structure was demolished in 1930, and it was reconstructed in 1986. Furnishings specifically designed for the building, including the Barcelona chair, are still in production, and the structure has inspired many important modernist buildings.