By Carroll Luk
Designed and constructed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, the Farnsworth House is an icon of the Bauhaus movement in architecture. The house was intended to be a single-room retreat located in the countryside of Plano, Illinois of Chicago. The 140-square-metre structure is now designated as a National Historic Landmark, and recognized by several relevant international organizations, asserting its prominence and significance in the world of architecture. This masterpiece in architecture was commissioned by Edith Farnsworth.
The Farnsworth House captures the essence of Bauhaus design principles, where minimalism is appreciated, restricting excessive decorations, putting ultimate focus on the user and the functionality of the space while incorporating personal ideas into the design.
Rectangles, simple geometric shapes, are often used in architecture of the Bauhaus influence. The functionality and efficient use of space is highly emphasized in such structures. The use of floor-to-ceiling glass allows light penetration into the interior of the retreat, providing a visual connection between ‘living’ and ‘nature’. Elevated from the ground, the main living space is introduced by a floating slab. Eight wide flange steel columns are attached to the side of the main living space while connecting to the ground. The design concept, surrounding the idea of a single-room living space, allows dynamic and versatile interior arrangements that best suit the user of the space.
With respect to the location, topography as well as the overall design, Mies attempted to ‘use architecture as a tool to help reconcile the individual spirit with the new mass society in which the individual exists’. The sense of calamity generated from simple geometries of the work, combined with the implications of privacy through the location of the House presents Mies’ ideas to us viewers, and most importantly, the user of the space. Mies has always believed in the connection and unity between humans and nature, which are seen evidently in the open interior space, integrating the idea of ‘nature’ into the experience.
A similar design concept is utilized in the S.R. Crown Hall also by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, with the consistent use of floor-to-ceiling glass, columns on the exterior, elevated platforms, etc.. The Crown Hall is also regarded as one of Mies’ architectural masterpieces.
The status and importance of the House in the Bauhaus movement is undoubted, defining innovative design principles and reconsidering the use of space. The Farnsworth House is truly a work that inspires.
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