A: The German Pavilion at the 1929 Expo in Barcelona, as designed by Ludwig Mies van de Rohe. The official pavilion of the Weimar Republic was situated on a raised location in the middle of the grounds and featured a novel use of space to distinguish itself from the other, more traditional structures. With its modern structure and fittings, it quickly became a celebrated highlight of the exposition. It was later rebuilt using the original plans in 1979.
The function of the pavilion was as much about showcasing the art of architecture as the highlights of Germany at the time. This interpretation also corresponds with its presentation strategy: for example its entry steps were hidden behind one of the stair strings, so the building appeared to stand on a plinth which invited inspection from all sides.
