Mies van der Rohe as a Design Inspiration

Mies is best known as one of the Architects who pioneered the concept of "Universal Space" in Architecture- working to reveal the continuous flow of space through a building, from outside to inside, and back again. This way of treating space became a highly recognizable feature of Modern Architecture in its heyday, and is widely used by Architects working today.

Just how revolutionary Mies' way of treating space was is hard to grasp now that its become such a fundamental part of our everyday experience. But up until the early 20th Century the practice of Architecture always focused on the capture and compartmentalization of space. While styles were diverse and continually evolving, the basic practice of Architecture involved the creation of discrete separate spaces for one purpose or another, always defined by solid enclosures or well defined boundaries. The new way of thinking could be seen developing in the work of Mies from the early 1920's ... seeking to channel, bend, mould, and modulate space without stopping or confining it. This had not been seen before, and some observers saw it as a reflection of the emergence of mankind from the constraints of history, into a shining new age of limitless possibilities and human fulfillment.

The idea that this new Architecture played a role in liberation of mankind from the limitations of the past is debatable. But the sheer beauty of the buildings created by Mies and those inspired by his vision, is not. His work has always been a great inspiration to me.

Farnsworth House 1
Farnsworth House 2
MOMA Exhibition- 2001
Barcelona Pavilion
Illinois Institute of Technology 1
Illinois Institute of Technology 2
Seagram Building