Farnsworth House™ Plano, Illinois, USA

Booklet available on: Livret disponible sur: Folleto disponible en: Architecture.LEGO.com

21009_.indd 1 02/03/2011 12:23 PM Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, born Maria Ludwig Michael Mies (March 27, 1886 – August 17, 1969) was an architect and designer. Mies has long been considered one of the most important architects of the 20th century. In Europe, before World War II, Mies emerged as one of the most innovative leaders of the Modern Movement, producing visionary projects and executing a number of small but critically significant buildings. After emigrating to the United States in 1938, he transformed the architectonic expression of the steel frame in American architecture and left a nearly unmatched legacy of teaching and building.

Born in Aachen, Germany, Mies began his architectural career as an apprentice at the studio of Peter Behrens from 1908 to 1912. There he was exposed to progressive German culture, working alongside Walter Gropius and Le Corbusier. Determined to establish a new architectural style that could represent modern times just as Classical and Gothic had done for their own eras, Mies began to develop projects that, though most remained unbuilt, rocketed him to fame as a progressive architect.

His dramatic modernist debut was his stunning competition proposal for the all-glass Friedricstrasse skyscraper in 1921. He continued with a whole series of pioneering projects, including the temporary German Pavilion for the Barcelona exposition (often called the Barcelona Pavilion) in 1929. In the 1930s he joined the avant-garde Bauhaus design school as director, but faced with growing Nazi political pressure decided to emigrate to America in 1938. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe 2

21009_.indd 2 16/12/2010 7:03 PM In the U.S., he became head of the department of architecture at the newly- Building and the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Mies continued to established Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, introducing a new refine his vision of a monumental “skin and bones” architecture. He sought kind of education that would become known as the Second School to create free and open spaces, enclosed within a structural order with of Chicago, with works such as Farnsworth House™, the Seagram minimal presence.

German Pavilion in Barcelona 3

21009_.indd 3 16/12/2010 7:03 PM Farnsworth House™

21009_.indd 4 16/12/2010 7:03 PM One of Mies’ most famous aphorisms was “less is more”. For many, the outdoor architectural shelter simultaneously independent of and architecture of Farnsworth House represents the ultimate refinement intertwined with the nature around it. The simple elongated cubic form of his minimalist beliefs. of the house runs parallel to the flow of the river and is anchored to the site in the cooling shadow of a large and majestic black maple It was designed and constructed between 1945 and 1951 as a one- tree. To underline the strong connection with nature, the house was room weekend retreat, located in a once-rural setting, 55 miles (89 km) deliberately built on the flood plain near the river’s edge instead of southwest of Chicago on a 60-acre (240,000 m2) estate adjoining the on the flood-free upland portions of the site. Fox River, in the city of Plano, Illinois. The steel and glass house was commissioned by Dr. Edith Farnsworth, a prominent Chicago medical specialist, as a place where she could engage in her hobbies: playing the violin, translating poetry, and enjoying nature. Farnsworth was highly intelligent, articulate, and intent on building a very special work of modern architecture. Her instructions for Mies were to design the house as if it were for himself.

Mies created a 1,585-square-foot (140 m2) house that is now widely recognized as an iconic masterpiece of the International Style of architecture. The home was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006 after being added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. It is currently owned and run as a house museum by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Like many Modernists, Mies worshiped the technology-driven modern era he lived in, but also believed that reconnecting the individual with nature was one of the greatest challenges faced by an urbanized society..

With this in mind, Mies conceived Farnsworth House™ as an indoor-

21009_.indd 5 16/12/2010 7:03 PM 6

21009_.indd 6 16/12/2010 7:03 PM The essential characteristics of the house are immediately apparent. beyond the column supports, creating cantilevers. The house seems The extensive use of clear floor-to-ceiling glass opens the interior to its to float weightlessly above the ground it occupies. A third floating natural surroundings to an extreme degree. Two distinctly expressed slab, an attached terrace, acts as a transition between the living area horizontal slabs, which form the roof and the floor, sandwich an open and the ground. The house is accessed by two sets of wide steps space for living. The slab edges are defined by exposed steel structural connecting the ground to the terrace and then to the porch. As was members painted pure white. The house is elevated five feet three inches often the case with Mies’ designs, the entrance is located on the sunny (1.60 m) above the flood plain by eight steel columns, which are attached side, facing the river instead of the access road. to the sides of the floor and ceiling slabs. The end of the slabs extend

21009_.indd 7 16/12/2010 7:03 PM The interior appears to be one large room fi lled with freestanding had almost doubled the fi nal costs, and the bitter dispute was only elements. The space is sub-divided but not partitioned, and fl ows resolved after a long and very public court case. around two wood blocks that Mies called “cores,” one a wardrobe cabinet and the other a kitchen, toilet, and fi replace block. The larger Though she continued to use her weekend retreat for almost 20 fi replace-kitchen core appears almost as a separate house nestling years, Edith Farnsworth often felt intimidated by the openness of the within the larger glass house. The materials used are quietly building. Other complaints included the costs of heating the house luxurious – travertine fl oors, primavera paneling and silk curtains – and and constantly rusting pillars. the detailing minimal and meticulous. For some critics, Farnsworth House™ represents the disconnect between On its completion, Farnsworth House™ received accolades in the Modernist architecture and the reality of its users’ lives. Nevertheless, the architectural press, which resulted in many uninvited visitors trespassing timeless quality of this house is still regarded with reverent fascination by on the property to glimpse the latest Mies work of art. Unfortunately new generations of architects and designers around the world. Mies and Edith Farnsworth had a falling out over the costs, which

21009_.indd 8 16/12/2010 7:03 PM A National Trust Historic Site

Whenever a historic building is demolished or allowed to deteriorate, a part of the nation’s past is also in danger of disappearing forever. The National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) is dedicated to protecting these irreplaceable places that tell America’s story.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Washington, DC, the NTHP is a private, nonprofit organization with over 270,000 members. The National Trust provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to people and organizations across the country working to preserve the nation’s heritage.

The NTHP owns and manages Farnsworth House™ as one of its 29 National Trust Historic Sites, and has been instrumental in coordinating the careful restoration of the building after it was badly damaged by flooding in 2008.

Learn more about the NTHP’s efforts to preserve historic buildings at www.PreservationNation.org.

21009_.indd 9 16/12/2010 7:03 PM Facts about Farnsworth House™

Location: ...... Plano, Kendall County, Illinois, USA Style: ...... Modern Architect: ...... Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Date: ...... From 1945 to 1951 Building type:...... House. One-room weekend retreat Floor area:...... 1,585-square feet (140 m2) Materials: ...... Steel and glass

21009_.indd 10 16/12/2010 7:03 PM 4x 1

21009_.indd 11 16/12/2010 7:03 PM 1x 2

21009_.indd 12 16/12/2010 7:03 PM 8x 3

21009_.indd 13 16/12/2010 7:03 PM 4x 4

21009_.indd 14 16/12/2010 7:03 PM 2x 5

21009_.indd 15 16/12/2010 7:03 PM 2x 12x 6

21009_.indd 16 16/12/2010 7:03 PM 10x 6x 7

21009_.indd 17 16/12/2010 7:03 PM 16x 8

21009_.indd 18 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 4x 9

It has often been remarked that Mies raised the house above the ground in an attempt to raise it above the water during fl oods. But also, the eff ect of the raised fl oor has another, completely dramatic, eff ect of heightening the transparency created by the fl ood of light entering on all sides through the glass walls.

21009_.indd 19 20/12/2010 3:40 PM 1x 1x

1x 2x 10

21009_.indd 20 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 3x 4x 1x 11

3x 21

21009_.indd 21 20/12/2010 3:40 PM 1x

2x 1x 12

21009_.indd 22 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 44x

1x 1x 13 1 2

21009_.indd 23 20/12/2010 3:40 PM 24

21009_.indd 24 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 3x 18x 1x 14

21009_.indd 25 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 1x 48x 15

21009_.indd 26 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 1x 3x 1x

16 1 2

21009_.indd 27 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 2x 1x 1

21009_.indd 28 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 1x 1x 2 1x 1x 3

21009_.indd 29 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 4

21009_.indd 30 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 1x 5

There is a sense of high reﬁ nement in every detail of the house. The entire frame was sandblasted smooth and then painted with a perfect white veneer instead of being left rough.

21009_.indd 31 20/12/2010 3:40 PM 2x

2x 4x 6

21009_.indd 32 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 16x 1x 2x 7

21009_.indd 33 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 6x 4x 1x 1x 8

21009_.indd 34 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 11x 2x 1x 1x 9

21009_.indd 35 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 15x 1x 10

21009_.indd 36 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 1x 8x 3x 2x 11

21009_.indd 37 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 56x 12

21009_.indd 38 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 2x 1 2

1x 1x 1x 3x 13

21009_.indd 39 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 2x 4x 1x 14

21009_.indd 40 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 1x 1x 1x 15

21009_.indd 41 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 1x 2x 16 2x

21009_.indd 42 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 1x 2x 17

21009_.indd 43 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 1x 2x 18

21009_.indd 44 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 1 2 1x 6x 19

21009_.indd 45 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 1x 1x 20

21009_.indd 46 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 2x 2x 21

21009_.indd 47 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 1x 1x 1x 1x 22

21009_.indd 48 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 5x 5x 23

All of the materials used are of the highest quality, from the travertine slabs to the primavera veneer used in the central core.

21009_.indd 49 20/12/2010 3:40 PM 4x 1x 2x 2x 24

21009_.indd 50 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 2x 6x 25

21009_.indd 51 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 6x 26

21009_.indd 52 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 18x 6x 6x 27

21009_.indd 53 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 6x 28

21009_.indd 54 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 2x 1x 29

21009_.indd 55 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 1 2

4x 32x 30 4x

21009_.indd 56 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 1x

20x 2x 31

21009_.indd 57 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 32

21009_.indd 58 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 2x 2x 2x 33

21009_.indd 59 21/12/2010 10:54 AM 1x 1x 34

21009_.indd 60 16/12/2010 7:04 PM A Word from the Artist

As an Architectural Artist my desire is to capture the essence of a In this case, however, the scale would be determined solely by the particular architectural landmark into its pure sculptural form. I fi rst and proportions of the structure. In order to eff ectively replicate the balance foremost do not view my models as literal replicas, but rather my own between the refi ned white structural elements and expansive clear artistic interpretations through the use of LEGO® bricks as a medium. glazing, I would have to start with the smallest cross section I could The LEGO brick is not initially thought of as a material typically used make the vertical exterior columns. After several attempts combining in creating art or used as an artist’s medium. I quickly discovered the diff erent elements the most promising turned out to be using basic 1x1 LEGO brick was lending itself as naturally to my applications as paint bricks. Everything else essentially fell into place now that an implied 1x1 to a painter or metal to a blacksmith. As I explore how to capture these grid was defi ned: the inviting steps, the fl oating fl oor and roof decks, the buildings with the basic shapes of the bricks and plates, I fi nd the understated furnishings and cleverly designed built-ins. It’s fi tting that possibilities and challenges they off er almost magical. recreating a minimalist symbol of modern architecture was done so with the simplest of LEGO bricks, the humble 1x1. Farnsworth House™ Celebrating our 10th model in the LEGO Architecture line we thought it would be a great opportunity to select our next Architect to further expand the Architect series. While there are many wonderful choices to consider, the decision was made to showcase a structure which seemed to have been designed using only ordinary LEGO bricks, lending itself perfectly for exploration as a potential model. Mies’ Farnsworth House™ is a minimalist “Steel & Glass” modernist symbol of the 1950s. Like his earlier and equally well known Barcelona Pavilion, this structure delicately balances clean lines, volume of space, minimal structure, and expansive glazing, creating an inviting relationship between the natural and built environments. The challenge may not seem so obvious: straightforward design and basic LEGO elements, what else could you ask for? However, there are two not so obvious challenges even with a seemingly easy build, namely those of scale and proportion. The scale of the model needs to conform to an appropriate size which can capture all of the detail yet still be small enough to be manageable. – Adam Reed Tucker

21009_.indd 61 16/12/2010 7:04 PM References

Text credits:

National Trust for Historic Preservation®

Photo credits:

Farnsworth House™, a National Trust Historic Site

Chigaco History Museum

Hans Peter Schaefer

John Hill Tigerhill Studio

Customer Service Kundenservice Service Consommateurs Servicio Al Consumidor www.lego.com/service or dial

00800 5346 5555 : 1-800-422-5346 :

21009_.indd 62 16/12/2010 7:04 PM 7x 46x 6x 1x 4125253 2x 300501 243101 4109995 1x 302026 4211549

2x 4x 5x 407001 366601 5x 4612603 6x 4162465 663626 1x 4211515 12x 302401 8x 1x 4114026 4642923

1x 4x 238x 4112982 379526 3x 307001 4211151 3x 4x 4113917 346001 6x 6x 302301 4121921 10x 1x 416226 4211288 6x 3000840 3x 5x 303401 379401 2x 4113233 1x 2x 12x 4211398 4167842 303426 2x 5x 4565324 447701 2x 4550324 5x 3005740 4x 52x 4558955 306801 8x 5x 428226 303501 3x 4124067

3x 302201 Customer Service 12x 4594686 Kundenservice 5x 1x Service Consommateurs 303601 4157277 2x Servicio Al Consumidor 362301 www.lego.com/service or dial

: 00800 5346 5555 6x 4x 1x 12x : 1-800-422-5346 302101 244501 4113993 4549214 63

21009_.indd 63 20/12/2010 3:40 PM 21009_.indd 64 09/03/2011 12:08 PM