On the initiative of the Urban Planning Department of Barcelona, the reconstruction of the Barcelona Pavilion was undertaken by architects, Ignasi de Sola-Morales, Cristian Cirici and Fernando Ramos, in 1983. The original iconic structure had been designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886-1969), and erected as the German National Pavilion for the 1929 Barcelona International Exhibition. Constructed of glass, travertine and various types of marble, it became the object of inspiration for generations of architects and the subject of study for students of the Modernist Movement.

The newly built Pavilion was opened in 1986 on the site of the original on Montjuic. Composed of glass, steel and a selection of marble including Roman travertine, green Alpine, an ancient green marble from Greece and golden onyx from the Atlas mountains, all of which strongly resemble the materials used by Mies van der Rohe in 1929, this once more emphasizes his innovative approach in his use of materials.

The Barcelona chair is an item designed by Mies van der Rohe specifically for the Pavilion. The chair has proudly stood the test of time and continues to be a popular classic, so much so that its leather upholstered metallic shape is still being manufactured and marketed to this day.

Georg Kolbe’s sculpture, entitled Alba (Dawn), has been reproduced and positioned beside a small pond. Reflected in the surfaces of water, marble and glass, the curves of its shape create a perfect contrast to the superb simplicity of the lines of the Pavilion.