ICONS: MIES VAN DER ROHE

From humble beginnings working in his father’s stone-carving shop, German-born Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, quickly transformed in to one of the pioneering masters of modern architecture. Despite having no formal training, he joined the studio of Peter Behrens and worked alongside Walter Gropius and Le Corbusier. He began his independent career designing homes for Berlin’s upper class. His uncluttered, simplistic, less-is-more approach became widely known and referred to as “skin and bones” architecture.

His buildings featured industrial steel and plate glass, elements that were also present in his furniture pieces – made using new industrial technologies, combining leather with modern chrome frames, and always exercising exquisite craftsmanship. Many of his chairs have gone on to become symbols of this twentieth century style, such as the classic Barcelona chair and ottoman; the seemingly suspended Brno chair; and the Tugendhat chair, which was a hybrid of the two aforementioned designs.

Author

JEREMY SILVERMAN

Tags

DESIGN | INTERIOR | FURNITURE