barcelona pavilion: MIES VAN DER ROHE
background info • • • • •
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The 1929 Barcelona International exposition took place from May 20 to January 15,1930 in Bacelona ,Spain. The mountain of Montjuïc is where it was held. 20 European nations participated in the fair, including Germany, France , and Barcelona. The exposition required a lot of urban development which lead to new architectural styles. Spain would spark the arrival of its avant-garde style such as modern minimalism (Barcelona Pavilion). Mies Van der Rohe was commissioned to build a pavilion for the exposition. The exposition also allowed for the designs of The Palau National Catalunya Art Museum , The Magic Fountain of Montjuic The Venetian Towers and the Placa Espanya . These developments contributed to an influential experience in Spain and had connections to each other by the Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina. The Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina is an avenue that runs from the Placa Espana to the Palau National Catalunya Art Museum and creates a dynamic axis that included the Barcelona Pavilion.
site context BARCELONA , SPAIN
urban development
• Placa Espanya • The center of town is a 10 minute ride away, or a 30-40 minutes walk.
Venetian Towers . • The Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina runs right through the towers
urban development
• Palau National Catalunya Art Museum . • Is located at the end of The Avinguda de la Reina Maria • It houses Renaissance, Gothic, and Romanesque artwork
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The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc The fountain is below the Palau National Catalunya Art Museum on the Montjuïc hill . The Fountain serves as a important crossing that generates a massive amount of circulation.
site CONTEXT
absolute best weather from MAY TO THE END OF JULY Month January February March April May June July August September October November December
Average Temperature oC 10 13 13 16 18 21 25 29 22 18 16 12
Average Temperature F 50 55 55 61 64 68 77 84 72 65 61 54
Summary of Day By Day (Weather Log) January February March April May June July August September October November December
view from THE MAGIC FOUNTAIN OF MONTJUÏC
experience…….
intensions for the pavilion •created a pavilion for the international exposition of 1929 in barcelona ,spain •place for tranquility and escape •inhabitable sculpture • displays architectural principles such as material, experience , and circulation •generates framed views from interior to exterior •offset walls create movement throughout spaces that formulate an organic flow; dissipates boundaries from interior to exterior MIES ‘S
materials and furniture green aplhine travertine golden onyx frosted glass steel cruciform columns barcelona furniture
a chair fit for a KING
King Alphonso XIII
“The chair is a very difficult object. Everyone who has ever tried to make one knows that. There are endless possibilities and many problems - the chair has to be light, it has to be strong, it has to be comfortable. It is almost easier to build a sky scraper than a chair.� Mies 1930
contrast AND INTRIQUE The Kolbe sculpture adds a dramatic contrast to the orthogonal geometry of the building. The sensation of being boxed in by exterior walls are completely diminished by the reflection in the pool . That reflection creates an illusion of infinite space ultimately creating an dreamlike experience .
immediate SITE CONTEXT
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Entrance Main Volume Reflecting pools Secondary Volume Garden Entrance
circulation...
CIRCULATION PATTERNS DIFFERENT VIEWS