BARCELONA PAVILION- OPEN WALL - 1997

Location: Barcelona, Spain
Status: Small Town Planning
Collaboration: Flatz Architect and Vienna Synthetica 

The concept behind the Barcelona Pavilion’s "Open Wall" is both a tribute to Mies van der Rohe's design philosophy and a challenge to it. Mies’ use of points, lines, and planes is reimagined on a larger scale, extending beyond the pavilion into a small-town planning exercise. This expansion introduces the fluidity and openness of the pavilion’s spaces into a new context—one that defines what makes a city or small town.

The "Open Wall" concept integrates essential elements of community: sacred spaces, lodging, cultural institutions, housing, and areas for education and connection. These elements work together to create a place where movement and interaction occur both horizontally and vertically. The design emphasizes fluidity and flexibility, inviting connections and fostering exchange in a dynamic, evolving environment.