Utilitarianism and

the Rise of
International
Modernism
W H AT D I D M I E S M E A N BY L E S S I S M O R E ? C R I T I C A L LY R E V I E W E VA N S
A RT I C L E O N M I E S B A RC E LO N A PAV I L I O N :
W H AT I N S I G H T ( S ) D I D YO U
G A I N ? N O W W R I T E YO U R O W N C R I T I C A L A N A LY S I S O F M I E S B A RC E LO N A
PAV I L I O N

Table of Contents
Architects Brief
Less is More
Insights from Mies van Der Rohes Paradoxical Symmetries
article by Robin Evans
Critical analysis of Mies Barcelona Pavilion

Architects Brief
LUDWIG
MIES
VAN27
DER
ROHE
Was born
March
1886
German architect
Famous for the Less is
More quote
Notable works:

http://theredlist.com/media/database/design-categorie/here-and-now/19101920/german-bahaus/mies_van_der_rohe/028-mies-van-der-rohe-theredlist.jpg

o Barcelona Pavilion
o Farnsworth House
o IIT Architecture School
o Seagram Building

Notable Works

Barcelona Pavilion
http://figure-ground.com/data/mies_pavilion/0011.jpg

Farnsworth House
http://www.dailyicon.net/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/farnsworth3.jpg

IIT Architecture School

Seagram Building

http://www.archdaily.com/59816/ad-classics-iit-master-plan-andbuildings-mies-van-der-rohe/crownhall/

https://www.incollect.com/sites/uploads/07SEA
GRAM1-superJumbo.jpg

Less is More
Peter Behrens, regarded as the
first industrial designer in history
First implied by Mies on the AEG
Turbine Factory west elevation
Reducing building elements to
its simplest forms
Emphasizing simplicity and
minimalism
AEG Turbine Factory, West Courtyard
http://www.phaidon.com/resource/mies-p38-2.jpg

Defines modernist ethics

Insights from Evans Article

Asymmetry
Rational structure
Physical but bodiless
The horizon

Asymmetry
Almost symmetrical site,
asymmetrical building
Asymmetrical elements
obstructs the supposed-to-be
symmetrical building
Barcelona Pavilion Floor Plan

http://adrogues.com/2590/barcelona-pavilion-plan/amazing-barcelona-pavilion-plan-onarchitecture-design-with-barcelona-pavilion-plan-dwg/

Asymmetrical building layout

as a response to the site

Rational Structure

8 columns to support the

roof, without burdening the
walls

Walls as the form of

expression
Barcelona Pavilion Floor plan with
Columns

https://classconnection.s3.amazonaws.com/737/flashcards/1852737/jpg/germanpavi_plan13
54670259932.jpg

Mies: To me, structure is

something like logic.

Physical but Bodiless

The perception of light and

depth
The drawn elevation of
Barcelona Pavilion cannot
provide any ideas of what the
building is like
Barcelona Pavilion Elevation

https://classconnection.s3.amazonaws.com/737/flashcards/1852737/jpg/germanpavi_plan13
54670259932.jpg

As things become simpler,

emptier, the mind dwells on
the little that remains

The Horizon

The horizontal symmetry of

Barcelona Pavilion is very
apparent

The plane of symmetry is

very close to eye-level
Barcelona Pavilion

http://figure-ground.com/data/mies_pavilion/0013.jpg

Very coherent to perspective

Mies Initial Sketch of Barcelona

Pavilion
Redrawing Mies sketch to understand his way of thinking

All elements of Barcelona Pavilion are present in this sketch

Capturing the general concept of Mies vision of what the pavilion will be

Critical Analysis
The floor grid
The choice of color
The pursue of Picturesque
Reflectivity and transparency

The Floor Grid

Serves as datum grids
Coherence in the building

Barcelona Pavilion Floor Plan

http://adrogues.com/2590/barcelona-pavilion-plan/amazing-barcelona-pavilion-plan-onarchitecture-design-with-barcelona-pavilion-plan-dwg/

Emphasizing the structural

rationality

The Choice of Colour

White coloured roof =
signifies lightness
Solidly coloured walls =
signifies an aggressive
definition of space
Barcelona Pavilion

http://figure-ground.com/data/mies_pavilion/0010.jpg

Light coloured floor slab =

emphasizing horizontality

The Pursue of Picturesque

Tranquillity and sublimity
Aesthetically sophisticated
A piece of inhabitable
architecture
Barcelona Pavilion Bronze Statue

http://www.urbansplatter.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/201111-Spain-Barcelona-4.jpg

Reflectivity and Transparency

Curtain walls
Chrome columns
Reflective pools

Interior view

http://www.cjwalsh.ie/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Barcelona-Pavilion_Mies-van-derRohe1929.jpg

Sets a value towards

elegance