FARNSWORTH HOUSE

The only residence built by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in America, Farnsworth House (1948-51) exemplifies the central tenet both of the International Style, be inverting the conventions of traditional architecture, and of Mies` own design philosophy. Commissioned by Dr Edith Farnsworth to build a weekend retreat, Mies designed the house as an envelope of glass and steel floating over the Illinois Fox River flood plain. Its spare interior was intended for a simpler, cleaner, and healthier lifestyle. Even before its completion, however, architect and client had fallen out over expenses and practical problems with the house, and by the time Lord Palumbo bought it in 1972, Farnsworth had changed many of the interior elements dictated so precisely by Mies. Following a ruinous flood in 1996, the house has been faithfully reconstructed to its original conception. Richly illustrated with detailed drawings and specially commissioned photography, this latest book in an award winning series provides an in depth account of this icon of twentieth century Modernist architecture.