Product Description

Less is more: finding perfection in purity

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886–1969) was one of the founding fathers of modern architecture. The creator of the Barcelona Pavilion (1929), the Farnsworth House in Plano, Illinois (1945–1951) and the Seagram Building in New York (1954–1958), Mies was one of the founders of a new architectural style. Well known for his motto "less is more," he sought a kind of refined purity in architectural expression that was not seen in the reduced vocabulary of other Bauhaus members. His goal was not simply building for those of modest income but building economically in terms of sustainability, both in a technical and aesthetical way; the use of industrial materials such as steel and glass were the foundation of this approach. Though the extreme reduction of form and material in his work garnered some criticism, over the years many have tried—mostly unsuccessfully—to copy his original and elegant style.

This book explores more than 20 of his projects between 1906 and 1967, from his early work around Berlin to his most important American buildings.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #150781 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 96 pages

From the Publisher
Basic Architecture titles feature:
• Each title contains approximately 120 images, including photographs, sketches, drawings, and floor plans
• Introductory essays explore the architect’s life and work, touching on family and background as well as collaborations with other architects
• The body presents the most important works in chronological order, with descriptions of client and/or architect wishes, construction problems (why some projects were never executed), and resolutions
• The appendix includes a list of complete or selected works, biography, bibliography and a map indicating the locations of the architect’s most famous buildings

About the Author
Claire Zimmerman worked on the 2001 Museum of Modern Art exhibition "Mies in Berlin." In addition to authoring a number of essays for that exhibition’s catalog, she has published on Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and connections between modern architecture and new media practice. A doctoral candidate at the City University of New York Graduate Center, she holds a masters in architecture from Harvard University and a BA from the University of Pennsylvania. She has taught at Yale University, Barnard College, and Florida A&M University.

Customer Reviews

One of the Fathers of Modern Architecture
Mies Van Der Rohe is one of the father's of Modern Architecture. He began his career in Germany before the Great War and ended it in the United States in the late 1960's. Not only did he design some of the most iconic buildings and furniture of the Twentieth Century, Mies was also a teacher who deeply influenced generations of architects. We see his influence in cities throughout the world.

The volumes in Taschen's Basic Architecture Series are a must for anyone interested in the history of architecture. At $9.99 a volume, they are an affordable and attractive introduction to the works of the most influential architects of the past century. The sole hesitation I have with this volume is Claire Zimmerman's writing style. She writes in a flowery academic style that is off putting. However, at $9.99 a volume, you cannot go wrong. Recommended.

Good introdcution.
The pictures are good, but I wished there were more of them. 39 pictures are B&W and 35 are color ones, excluding the colored drawings and collages and the pictures of the architect. The Toronto Dominion Center is only given a pretty small photo as picture. I think some potential picture space is sacrificed for the graphic design of the book. The descriptions are good, the text is good. So overall it's a decent book.

hand book about Mies works
it' nice to have it in your colection or a travelling pack. you can starts to explore his works and get a idea about him. its ideal for the students, but if your looking for more minimalist details and plans you better find a another.