Mies Van Der Rohe At Work - Softcover

Carter, Peter

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0714838969 ISBN 13: 9780714838960

Publisher: Phaidon Press, 1999

Synopsis

This paperback reprint of a book initially published in 1974 delves into the ideology behind many of Mies van der Rohe's most famous architectural marvels, including the Seagram Building in New York City and the Lake Shore Drive Apartments in Chicago. Van der Rohe, father of the glass and steel modernist skyscraper, affected his field more dramatically than most of his contemporaries. From his earliest years as an apprentice architect in Germany in the first decade of the 20th century, van der Rohe pursued a clear set of ideals about the nature of building. Peter Carter, a student of and later staff architect for van der Rohe, guides readers through his mentor's commitment to structure as the determining factor of form and architecture as an illustration of its civilization. It may seem old hat to today's readers that form follows function, but the notion was very avant-garde during the middle of the century, when van der Rohe was at his height. The book is filled with photographs, building statistics, architectural drawings, and models that paint a clear picture of the philosophy behind these buildings that are such emblems of grace and strength. Quotes from van der Rohe himself--peppered throughout--are particularly insightful: "It is often thought that heaviness is synonymous with strength. In my opinion it is just the opposite." From his high-rise skeleton-frame buildings to landscaping to private homes, this truth is borne out. Mies van der Rohe at Work is perfectly suited for an aficionado of the great architect's work and readers who want to look at and read about great buildings. [192 pages, 300 black-and-white illustrations and biographical chronology] --J.P. Cohen

About this title

From the Publisher:

A document of Mies van der Rohe's philosophy of architecture, his way of working and his rigorous teaching methodology. The text examines, through statistics, photographs and detailed drawings, the most illustrious buildings of the architect's career. Author Peter Carter, who studied and later worked with Mies for 13 years, began the book while an associate with Mies van der Rohe's firm. Mies' structural and spatial concepts are analyzed through his three major building prototypes, specifically the skeleton frame building, both in it high- and low-rise manifestations, and the clear span buildings.

About the Author:

Peter Carter is an architect now living in London. In 1958 he joined Mies van der Rohe's office after studying with him in Chicago. He continued to work with Mies for 13 years and became an associate in the firm.

About this edition

• Publisher: Phaidon Press
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0714838969
• ISBN 13: 9780714838960
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 192