Farnsworth House

Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe – 14520 River Rd, Plano, IL 60545, United States, 1945-1951

The Casa Farnsworth (in English Farnsworth House) is one of the most famous projects of the architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Designed and built between 1945 and 1951 as a weekend home, with the service block in the centre. It is located in a once rural context, 80 kilometers west-southwest of Chicago, near the Fox River, south of the town of Plano.
The glass and steel house was commissioned by Dr. Edith Farnsworth, who wanted a place where she could enjoy nature and pursue her hobbies. Mies created a 140 m² house that has become one of the symbols of the modern movement. The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006.

The architectural features that distinguish the Farnsworth House are:

• Minimalist Design: The house features a minimalist design with clean lines and simple geometric shapes, reflecting Mies van der Rohe’s concept of “less is more”.
• Transparent Structure: The walls of the house are mainly composed of glass, which creates a sense of continuity between the internal and external spaces and allows a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape.
• Open Plan: The layout of the internal spaces is characterized by an open plan, without internal load-bearing walls, which promotes a sense of fluidity and freedom in the living environment.
• Integration with the Landscape: The Farnsworth House is designed to integrate harmoniously with the surrounding landscape, with its design appearing to almost float above the ground, emphasizing the relationship between architecture and nature.
• Modern Materials: Mies van der Rohe made innovative use of modern materials, such as steel and glass, to create a light and transparent structure, which challenges traditional architectural conventions.
• Formal Simplicity: The Farnsworth House is characterized by formal and elegant simplicity, with a symmetrical arrangement of elements and a reduction of superfluous ornamentation, reflecting the architect’s modernist aesthetic.

These are just some of the salient architectural features of the Farnsworth House, which make it a work of art and an icon of modern architecture.