Book Illustration, Mies van der Rohe German Pavilion in Barcelona, German Pavilion, designed 1929

German-born Ludwig Mies van der Rohe developed an influential architectural style based on principles of minimalism, rationality, and simplicity. During his time as director of architecture at the Bauhaus school, his style evolved to incorporate their principles of functionalism and simple geometric forms. In 1929, Mies designed the German Pavilion for the Barcelona Exposition. The pavilion, recognized as one of his great masterpieces, combines his own principles with Bauhaus theories. The structure consists of a series of slabs that rest on a central travertine plinth, and features an open, continuous space that dramatically links the inside to the outside of the building. The pavilion chronicles the spirit of the modern era: it promotes the essence of pre-fabricated construction, the simplicity of forms, and the Bauhaus concept that "less is more."