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Mies van der Rohe
Who World-famous architect who also became world-famous through a chair: The yet ever equaled Barcelona Chair.
Bio The, in the German city of Aken born, Ludwig Mies (1886-1969) developed, as a son of a trader in blocks, a great interest for achitecture. He doesn't follow in his fathers footsteps but starts, at age 19, as student-achitect with Bruno Paul. His career progresses well. Within a year he may design his first building. At age 27, he opens-up his own office in Berlin. Although Ludwig wins one after another prize and many more praises, his finest hour begins in 1927. He is asked to design the German Pavilion for the Worldexhibition of Barcelona in 1929. By then is is calling himself Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, after his mother. For the pavilion he designs and makes a duplicate chair which will make him world-famous. His companion and partner of that moment, who also had a important part in his designs and who is rarely mentioned, which is why we will mention her, is Lilly Reich. With the rise of nazi Germany, Mies van der Rohe emigrates to the USA. In Chicago he opens a new achitect bureau and is rappidly just as successful as before. He dies in 1969.
Style In his buildings he likes to use straight lines and clear shapes. He uses lots of glass, steel and concrete. In his furniture he, applies the same style.
Trend As an achitect, Mies van der Rohe is seen as chacachteristic for International style: Buildings who are no longer bound to lokal culture. His furniture is seen as Bauhaus. Known for the Barcelona Chair and the, lesser known, Brno Chair.
Quote 'We know no design, only construction problems. Design is not a goal, but the result of our work. I'm in favour of discipline, clarity and good craftsmanship. It has to be perfect.'
Design by Mies van der Rohe
