UNIVERSITI TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN

UEBA 1522
Introduction to Architectural Theory I
Trimester 2015-10
Individual Assignment

LUDWIG MIES VAN DER ROHE

SOCIOLOGICAL & TECHNOLOGICAL
EFFECTS OF HIS WORK

Name: Chin Hongrui

I.D: 1505519

UNIVERSITI TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN

UEBA 1522 Introduction to Architectural Theory I
Trimester 2015-10, Individual Assignment

LUDWIG MIES VAN DER ROHE

SOCIOLOGICAL & TECHNOLOGICAL
EFFECTS OF HIS WORK

Name: Chin Hongrui

I.D: 1505519

INTRODUCTION

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886-1969), a German-born architect is widely

regarded as one of the pioneering masters of Modern architecture,
responsible for establishing and popularizing a new architectural style in the
U.S. and subsequently, any other country with a metropolitan area. Due to
unstable political conditions in Germany, before World War 1, Mies left in
1938 to lecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology.
Known as one of the founders of modern architecture in the 20th
century from works such the Seagram Building in New York as well as 860880 Lake Shore Drive Apartments in Chicago, Mies had set a new standard
for modern architecture, creating the early models of future buildings that
would inhabit most metropolitan areas.
Mies created an inspiring architectural style- corporate architecture, as
it would later called - stated with high clarity and simplicity. He carried the
ideals of the Bauhaus - rationalism and minimalism - to new levels unseen in
architecture of the past. His work in US made use of modern materials such
as steel and glass to define interior spaces.

Mies works have since had lasting effects in several aspects, which can be
seen even today.
SOCIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
Based on his Glass Boxes i.e. Seagram Building and Lake Shore Drive
Apartments, the initial reception of corporate architecture was popular
because it corresponded well to the ideology of Capitalism in America by
being cheap and efficient, and at the same time portraying an image of
professionalism. This style of building continually popped up especially in
districts of finance because of its projected image of simplicity,
professionalism, and transparency, which as it happens were also values
essential to the corporate image. Those buildings can be compared to the
suits worn by corporate workers, and as it happens, Mies himself, to say that
they reflect their character
In a major way, corporate architecture also helped shape the skyline of
most metropolises in the world, both physically as well as sociologically. To
address the latter aspect, as these grew increasingly populated, its residents
were continually exposed to values that could, in a word, be described as
materialistic, which directly contributes to consumerism.

TECHNOLOGICAL ASPECT
By using supporting columns of reinforced steel and concrete, MIes freed and
opened up the plans of his buildings, essentially making them a single room
to be divided simply by partitions which could be placed without having to
consider load bearing capability. For example, in his German Pavilion in
Barcelona, the thin walls of seemingly fragile marble were thought to support
a visually heavy roof, when in truth the wall only functioned as a divider, to
separate rooms based on function. Another example of the technological
edge given by a free plan is in the Lake Shore Drive Apartments, where the
number of apartment units per floor was maximised, to meet the need for
mass produced, efficient housing in metropolitan Chicago.
Another one of Mies most memorable works was Farnsworth House,
also located in Chicago. By locating it close to the Fox River, Farnsworth
House was susceptible to flooding, and Mies countered this by raising it
above reinforced concrete stilts which also served to create a free, open
plan.
CONCLUSION
Mies had struck a chord so true in his designing of the glass box skycrapers,
through use of industrial materials to reduce costs and create buildings that
spoke of confidence, rationality and elegance, free of ornamentation and
excess. On the other hand, the meticulous palnning for Farnsworth House
and the simple usage of a reflective pool in his Barcelona Pavilion have only
reinforced his philosophy that "less is more".