The Farnsworth House is one of the most iconic examples of modernist architecture, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe between 1945 and 1951. This unusual single-storey steel and glass building was built as a weekend retreat for Dr Edith Farnsworth. The house is situated on a 360-acre plot of land in Plano, Illinois, about 96 kilometres southwest of Chicago.
The 140-square-metre building takes a minimalist approach to architecture and is one of the most famous examples of the international style. In 2006, the house was declared a National Historic Landmark, having been added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. It is now managed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the building functions as a museum. In 2018, on the occasion of the Illinois Bicentennial, the Farnsworth House was recognised as one of the 200 most important places in Illinois by the American Institute of Architects Illinois. In 2021, the New York Times also honoured it as one of the 25 most important works of architecture since World War II.
1970s Photo by Jack E. Boucher, photographer, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Farnsworth House project was born out of a commission Edith Farnsworth placed with Mies van der Rohe in 1945, dreaming of a modern weekend home. At first the collaboration went well, but during the construction process a conflict arose between the architect and the client. The dispute revolved around the cost of construction, which ultimately amounted to $74,000, a significant overrun on the original budget. Ultimately, Mies won the lawsuit, but the dispute continued. Farnsworth accused Mies of design errors, but the court dismissed these charges.
In 1968, the local authority decided to build a bridge over the Fox River, which interfered with the natural setting of the house. Farnsworth fought the case in court, but eventually lost and sold the house to British art collector Peter Palumb in 1972. Palumbo added modern amenities to the building, including air conditioning and electric heating, and placed sculptures by prominent artists such as Andy Goldsworthy and Richard Serra on the property. In 2001, after an unsuccessful attempt to sell the house to the state of Illinois, the property was auctioned at Sotheby’s, and in 2003 it was purchased by the National Trust for Historic Preservation for $7.5 million.
Farnsworth House is a true manifestation of Mies van der Rohe’s ideas. The house consists of two horizontal slabs – roof and floor – supported by eight steel columns. As a result, the building appears to float above the ground while being part of the landscape. The purity of form, the open interiors and the minimalist aesthetic are the essence of the modernist ideas that Mies developed during his career. The interior of the house is a single, open space, with subtle divisions into functional areas such as the kitchen, bedroom and living space. These elements are not separated by walls, which enhances the impression of a fluid space. The interior is mainly arranged with furniture – the only fixed and dividing element in the space is the kitchen and sanitary block. The house also features solutions such as underfloor heating, which was an innovative idea at the time.
One of the main objectives of the project was to connect man with nature. Through the use of walls of clear glass, the house melts with the surrounding landscape, giving the impression of living in the midst of nature. The property was built on an elevation, which protects it from regular flooding, although even this solution does not always prove sufficient, as evidenced by the devastating floods of the nearby river in 1954, 1996 and 2008. Farnsworth House is not only an exceptional example of modernist architecture, but also a physical expression of Mies van der Rohe’s philosophy. His work sought to reconcile the individual with modern, industrial society by creating a harmonious space in which technology and nature coexist.
Source: archdaily.com, edithfarnsworthhouse.org
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