A Biography/Critique featuring Mies van der Rohe

The unassuming book that this blog post is based upon (loaded with information!) 

Mies van der Rohe: Critical Essays - Franz Schulze

In this compilation of essays and testimonials regarding Mies, it is a common thread to say that Mies was truly the trailblazer of modern architecture. 

  1. It is widely believed that modern architecture was sparked by the combination of socialist and Marxist ideology. 
  2. Also, Mies was known to be particularly conservative about his words and said to be "insistent on impersonality" - preferring to focus on his work. 
  3. In addition, his collaboration with Le Corbusier and Walter Gropius pioneered what is considered "international style," used all around the world today and associated with more modern design techniques. 
  4. Using his "skin-and-bones" ideals of primarily using steel and glass, Mies prioritizes maximum flexibility in the buildings' usages and wants to increase the utility of every space. 

Citation: Schulze, Franz. Mies Van Der Rohe: Critical Essays. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1990.

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