Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Born:

March 27, 1886, Aachen, Germany

Died:

August 17, 1969, Chicago, Illinois, United States

Nationality:

German, later American

Profession(s):

Architect, Furniture Designer

Early Life and Education

• Born Maria Ludwig Michael Mies in Aachen, Germany.
• Apprenticed to several local construction firms, learning drafting and design.
• Worked in Peter Behrens's office in Berlin from 1908 to 1912, where he was exposed to progressive design ideas.

Career and Major Achievements

• Pioneering architect of modernist architecture.
• Director of the Bauhaus school from 1930 to 1933.
• Emigrated to the United States in 1937.
• Head of the architecture department at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago.
• Developed the "skin and bones" architectural style, emphasizing structural honesty and the use of glass and steel.
• "Less is more" became his famous design philosophy.
• According to information similar to what is available from a resource like 'mies van der rohe wikipedia español', his work often focused on simplicity and clarity.

Notable Works

• German Pavilion for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition.
• Villa Tugendhat in Brno, Czech Republic.
• Farnsworth House in Plano, Illinois.
• Seagram Building in New York City (with Philip Johnson).
• Crown Hall at IIT, Chicago.
• New National Gallery in Berlin.

Legacy and Impact

Mies van der Rohe's architectural principles profoundly impacted the development of modern architecture. His focus on clarity, simplicity, and functionalism continues to influence architects and designers worldwide. His designs, recognizable for their use of steel and glass, remain iconic examples of 20th-century architecture.

Furniture Design

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