The German Pavilion at the 1929 Barcelona World Exposition marked a defining moment for Lilly Reich, who served as its artistic director alongside Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. This project showcased her ability to integrate industrial serial production into high-concept interior architecture, a hallmark of her professional identity within the early Modern Movement.
Early Career and Viennese Influence
Born in Berlin in 1885, Reich moved to Vienna in 1908 to begin her professional trajectory with the Wiener Werkstätte. During this tenure, she refined her technical skills under the mentorship of Josef Hoffmann, contributing to furniture designs such as the Kubus sofa and armchair. Returning to Berlin by 1911, she transitioned into retail design, specifically creating store window displays and clothing installations for the Wertheim Department Store.
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In 1912, Reich gained prominence through her interior design work for the Lyzeum-Klub exhibition and the creation of a functional worker's flat in the Berlin Trade Union House. Her standing in the industry reached a new height in 1920 when she became the first woman appointed to the governing board of the Deutscher Werkbund. In this capacity, she curated significant design exhibitions, including an extensive 1922 showcase at the Newark Museum intended to promote German industrial standards.
Collaboration and Pedagogical Contributions
Reich joined the Trade Fair Office in Frankfurt am Main in 1924, where she formed a productive professional partnership with Mies van der Rohe. Their collaboration extended to major developments such as the Barcelona chair, the Brno chair, and the MR 10 collection. By 1932, she served as a Master at the Bauhaus, directing the interior design workshop until the institution’s closure in 1933. She later held a teaching position at the Berlin University of the Arts from 1945 until her death in 1947.
Fast facts
- Born: 1885, Berlin
- Died: 1947, Berlin
- Movement: Neues Bauen
- Bauhaus Tenure: 1932
- Notable Works: Barcelona chair, MR 10, Brno chair, Villa Tugendhat
- Citizenship: Germany
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of Reich’s work at the 1929 Barcelona Exposition?
As artistic director, she played a vital role in the presentation of the German Pavilion and the debut of the Barcelona chair, stressing the alignment of design with industrial processes.
Did Reich work at the Bauhaus?
Yes, she taught at the Bauhaus in 1932 as a Master, directing the interior finishings department before the school was closed by the Nazis in 1933.
Achievements
- Notable work: German Pavilion, Barcelona
- Notable work: MR 10
- Notable work: Barcelona chair
- Notable work: Villa Tugendhat
- Affiliated with Berlin University of the Arts, Wiener Werkstätte and Bauhaus
- Worked as designer, architect and interior designer
