The Building LocationRebuilt in 1983 in the same location as in 1929, the Barcelona Pavilion stands on a narrow site, hidden from view in the Catalonia street of Av de Ruis i Taulet, away from the bustling streets of the city. Even as you stand in front, the trees act as a curtain covering most of the building site. It is said to be a tranquil place, It sits on relatively flat land, with a plinth.
The decided location was actually a decision taken on by the Architect rather than the client. The Spanish exhibition directorate rather preferred the site by Puig y Cadafalch (opposite the French Pavillion), but due to reason of appearance Mies van der Rohe rejected this idea. This site was to offer a viewpoint to the visitors and a path to the “Spanish village”, it was meant to be a resting point ‘for weary visitors’ to offer what was “an ideal zone of tranquillity” between all the exhibition sites, from the Barcelona International Exposition in 1929. I believe that the building, in its surroundings, exhibits a vast number of differences amongst the other structures, such as: the Cuixaforum (which stands opposite); the Museu National d’And de Catalunya (adjacent to the Pavillion) and the Magic Fountain, the “Spanish village” (Poble Espanyol) and a tall block of flats (diagonally opposite). I believe that the pavilion’s take on modernism, consequently makes the building look peculiar. In size, it is significantly smaller, especially next to the grand majestic classical Museum and the diagonally opposing block of flats. |
Although the Cuixaforum (building on the opposite road) is actually a take on ‘Art Noveau’; with its new innovative combination of industrial and brick structure; in 1913 it was also considered as having modern features, moving away from the neoclassical type of buildings. However, even as the Pavilion similarly try’s to move away from the neoclassical, it looks like an edifice built before its time, built to live in the 21st century and not 20th century. The structure also moves away from the conventional brick and stones (which the other buildings have) to the use of a combination of natural and manmade material like glass, steel and other stones such as green marble and golden onyx from the Atlas Mountain. For these reasons, the building doesn’t quite successfully relate to the other buildings or integrate well, except for the reason that most of them hold exhibitions or are exhibition sites; as the Pavilion is opened daily to the public. There is also the fact that the sites were all built around or just before 1929 (as part of the Exposition or World Exhibition) except for the Caixaforum (1923) and the flats. |
Drawn site plan of Barcelona Pavilion.
References
Kroll, Andrew. "AD Classics: Barcelona Pavilion / Mies van der Rohe" 08 Feb 2011. ArchDaily. Accessed 07 Oct 2014. <http://www.archdaily.com/?p=109135>
"Barcelona Pavilion." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 July 2014. Web. Accessed 09 Oct. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcelona_Pavilion>
"Art Nouveau (c.1890-1914)." Art Nouveau Design: Characteristics, History, Artists. ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ART HISTORY, n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. <http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/history-of-art/art-nouveau.htm>.
"Barcelona 2014 - Magic Fountain Barcelona - Font Màgica De Montjuïc." Barcelona 2014 - Magic Fountain Barcelona - Font Màgica De Montjuïc. BarcelonaYellow, n.d. Web. 08 Oct. 2014. <http://www.barcelonayellow.com/bcn/Barcelona-most-famous-tourist-attractions%2520/top-tourist-attractions/magic-fountain-font-magica-de-montjuic>
"1929 Barcelona International Exposition." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Oct. 2014. Web. 11 Oct. 2014.< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1929_Barcelona_International_Exposition>
"Museu Nacional D'Art De Catalunya." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Nov. 2014. Web. 11 Oct. 2014.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museu_Nacional_d'Art_de_Catalunya>
VIEW FROM “GOOGLE MAP”
<https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&t=h&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=100172484801033043076.00048abe0ced274786791&dg=feature>
"Barcelona Pavilion." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 July 2014. Web. Accessed 09 Oct. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcelona_Pavilion>
"Art Nouveau (c.1890-1914)." Art Nouveau Design: Characteristics, History, Artists. ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ART HISTORY, n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. <http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/history-of-art/art-nouveau.htm>.
"Barcelona 2014 - Magic Fountain Barcelona - Font Màgica De Montjuïc." Barcelona 2014 - Magic Fountain Barcelona - Font Màgica De Montjuïc. BarcelonaYellow, n.d. Web. 08 Oct. 2014. <http://www.barcelonayellow.com/bcn/Barcelona-most-famous-tourist-attractions%2520/top-tourist-attractions/magic-fountain-font-magica-de-montjuic>
"1929 Barcelona International Exposition." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Oct. 2014. Web. 11 Oct. 2014.< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1929_Barcelona_International_Exposition>
"Museu Nacional D'Art De Catalunya." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Nov. 2014. Web. 11 Oct. 2014.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museu_Nacional_d'Art_de_Catalunya>
VIEW FROM “GOOGLE MAP”
<https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&t=h&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=100172484801033043076.00048abe0ced274786791&dg=feature>