About Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe

Famous for his dictum 'Less is More', Mies attempted to create contemplative, neutral spaces through an architecture based on material honesty and structural integrity. Mainly an architect, he incorporated this dictum into furniture as well. In 1929, the small hall he designed, known as the Barcelona Pavilion become the inspiration for van der Rohe's famous chrome and leather 'barcelona chair'. The concept of fluid space with a seamless flow between indoors and outdoors was further explored in other projects he designed for decades to come. Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe was born in Aachen, Germany March 27, 1886. He worked in the family stone-carving business. At 19 he moved to Berlin, where he worked for Bruno Paul, the art nouveau architect and furniture designer. At 20 he received his first independent commission, to plan a house for a philosopher (Alois Riehl). In 1908 he began working for the architect Peter Behrens and remained until 1912. Under Behrens' influence, Mies developed a design approach based on advanced structural techniques and Prussian Classicism. He also developed sympathy for the aesthetic credos of both Russian Constructivism and the Dutch De Stijl group. He borrowed from the post and lintel construction of Karl Friedrich Schinkel for his designs in steel and glass. He studied the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright during this time period. He opened his own office in Berlin in 1912, and married in 1913. in 1921, when his marriage ended, he changed his name, adding the Dutch 'van der' and his mother's maiden name, 'rohe': ludwig mies became ludwig mies van der rohe. In the 20's he was active in a number of the Berlin avant-garde circles. Mies worked with the magazine G which started in July 1923. He was also involved organizations such as the 'novembergruppe', 'zehner ring', and 'arbeitsrat für kunst', which supported modern art and architecture along with artists like Hans Richter, el Lissitzky, and Theo van Doesburg, among others. He made major contributions to the architectural philosophies of the late 1920s and 1930s as artistic director of the Werkbund sponsored Weissenhof project and as Director of the Bauhaus. In 1927 he designed one of his most famous buildings, the German Pavilion at the International Exposition in Barcelona. This small hall, known as the Barcelona Pavilion (for which he also designed the famous chrome and leather 'Barcelona Chair'), had a flat roof supported by columns and the pavilion's internal walls, which were made of glass and marble, could be moved around as they did not support the structure. Mies began working with Lilly Reich, who remained his collaborator and companion for more than ten years. Mies died in Chicago, Illinois in 1969. The Foundation Mies van der Rohe was set up in 1983 by the Barcelona City Hall with the initial purpose of reconstructing the German Pavilion, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886-1969) for the 1929 Barcelona International Exhibition. Besides conserving and disseminating knowledge about the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion, the Fundacio today also fosters debate on and awareness of themes related to contemporary architecture and urban planning, as well as encouraging studies on the work of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and on the Modern Movement. In accordance with these objectives, the Fundacio organizes awards, congresses, conferences, exhibitions, workshops and installations.