A visit to the German pavilion in Barcelona should be stringently required for every person studying architecture. Designed and planned nearly a hundred years ago by Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe, this building still sets standards. There is much that could be said about this amazing project yet I believe it’s best to leave it to a few enthusiastic comments and recommend a visit while in town. But remember, the early bird catches the worm!

The Barcelona Pavilion (Catalan: Pavelló alemany; Spanish: Pabellón alemán; “German Pavilion”), designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, was 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 same features of minimalism and spectacular can be applied to the prestigious furniture specifically designed for the building, among which the iconic Barcelona chair. It has inspired many important modernist buildings and the works of numerous architects.