GORK JOURNAL

The Magic of Biology in the Glass House of Edith Farnsworth

Architecture: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Years: 1946 — 1951
Photo: Rodolfo Benitez, Alejandro Suárez, whyseeimage
Geo: Illinois, US
Text: Anastasia Strashnova


The idea for the project was conceived at a party where the architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe met his client, the physician Edith Farnsworth.

The brief was to create a residence for relaxation, playing the cello, and walks to the river.

The architect decided to build a house without boundaries between the interior and exterior spaces. Due to the extensive use of glass, the outside world feels as though nothing separates you from it. The only private areas are two bathrooms located behind wooden panels in the center of the building.

Interesting Facts:
  • The project’s idea centers around the unity of man with nature.
  • The absence of internal partitions within the house.
  • Two porches make the structure asymmetrical and guide guests to the front of the house—the south facade.
  • The residence is located on the Fox River and is situated above its level to avoid flooding, supported by eight steel columns.

The experiments of the Bauhaus, including the Farnsworth House, have formed a movement called "biocentric constructivism." This approach is based on the principle that nature is the ideal creator, producing nothing superfluous and resulting in a simple and rational structure.

In working on the Glass House, Mies van der Rohe sought a connection between metal, glass, and the surrounding environment through the belief that "less is more." The structure forms the space, which should not have restrictions or clutter.

It feels as if van der Rohe has created a freedom-loving geometric ship that has landed in a forest clearing to rest before its next flight.

This building is akin to the "teapot" in 3ds Max and is familiar to every visualizer, practically under any lighting, thanks to HDRI.

@gorkjournal
Architecture Photo