Ludwig Mies
Ludwig Mies
Born Maria Ludwig Michael Mies and known professionally as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe or simply Mies, this German architect was responsible for such modernist masterpieces as the Barcelona Pavilion and the Czech Republic's Villa Tugendhat.
ProfessionArchitect
Date of Birth27 March 1886
reaches technology transcends
Wherever technology reaches its real fulfillment, it transcends into architecture.
becomes deeper expressed glass greater looks nature stands takes thus
When one looks at Nature through the glass walls of the Farnsworth House, it takes on a deeper significance than when one stands outside. More of Nature is thus expressed - it becomes part of a greater whole.
architecture depends field realm
Architecture depends on facts, but its real field of activity lies in the realm of the significance.
attempt beings beware bring color disrupt higher houses human interior life nature shall
Nature, too, shall live its own life. We must beware not to disrupt it with the color of our houses and interior fittings. yet we should not attempt to bring nature, houses, and human beings together into a higher unity.
beauty certainly lies
What finally is beauty? Certainly nothing that can be calculated or measured. It is always something imponderable, something that lies between things.
age architecture carriers structures
Our utilitarian structures will mature into architecture only when, through their fulfillment of function, they become carriers of the will of the age.
directed ends form inside towards
Form as a goal always ends in formalism. For this striving is directed not towards an inside, but towards an outside. But only a living inside has a living outside.
architecture epoch given translated
Architecture is the will of an epoch translated into space. Living, Changing, New. Not yesterday, not tomorrow, only today can be given form. Only such architecture is creative.
architect inevitably people
The architect must get to know the people who will live in the planned house. From their needs, the rest inevitably follows.
It is much better to have just one idea, and if the idea is clear, then you can fight for it. That is how you can get things done.
buildings group huge modern space time
Modern buildings of our time are so huge that one must group them. Often the space between these buildings is as important as the buildings themselves.
cannot cause change changed life physical
We have to know that life cannot be changed by us. It will be changed. But not by us. We can only guide the things that can cause physical change.
almost among architecture art authentic cost problem quality question reached throughout time
The problem of architecture has always been the same throughout time. Its authentic quality is reached through its proportions, and the proportions cost nothing. In fact, most of them are proportions among things, not the things themselves. Art is almost always a question of proportions.
carrying designs developed life practical
Most of our designs are developed long before there is a practical possibility of carrying them out. I do that on purpose and have done it all my life. I do it when I am interested in something.