Pavello Alemany (Barcelona Pavilion), Barcelona

Visitors to the 1929 International Exhibition would have been astonished by the modern and minimalist design of this pavilion. Designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, the director of the innovative Bauhaus school, in collaboration with Lilly Reich, the pavilion featured sleek, glassy spaces that blurred the boundaries between interior and exterior, and employed materials such as marble and onyx. Its polished façades and generous use of tinted glass further enhanced its aesthetic appeal.

The pavilion featured two pools integrated into its surroundings, one of which was graced by a bronze replica of Georg Kolbe's statue, "Alba" (Dawn). Unlike other pavilions at the exhibition, this architectural marvel was conceived as a place of serenity and repose for visitors rather than a traditional gallery. It housed no exhibits except for the iconic Barcelona Chair, an exquisite creation made of ivory-colored pigskin, specifically designed for the Spanish royal family as they explored the exhibition's pavilions and displays.

Initially intended as a temporary structure, the pavilion was dismantled after the exhibition's conclusion. However, in honor of the designer's centenary, an exact replica was meticulously reconstructed in the 1980s, employing the same materials and attention to detail.

Tip:
For the ideal photograph of "Alba", one should position themselves at the far end of the pool, where the statue's reflection can be captured not only in the water but also in the glass façade on the left.