How did the German Pavilion use walls and columns to create a sequence of spaces?

In the German Pavilion, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe utilized a structural system consisting of a roof slab supported by columns. Specifically, he employed chrome-plated, cruciform-shaped steel columns to carry the weight of the roof, which allowed the interior space to remain free from the constraints of load-bearing walls.1

By avoiding continuous walls, Mies created a fluid sequence of spaces that blurred the distinction between the interior and the exterior. Instead of traditional enclosed rooms, he used partitions to define areas within the open floor plan, maintaining a sense of openness and continuity throughout the pavilion. This design approach, characterized by the interplay of the roof slab, columns, and strategically placed partitions, is a hallmark of his contribution to Modernism.1