FARNSWORTH HOUSE

Mies Van der Rohe

The Farnsworth House. Designed by Mies van der Rohe in 1945 and

constructed in 1951 with the purpose of being a weekend retreat, the
Farnsworth House is a platonic perfection of order gently placed in
spontaneous nature in Plano, Illinois.

A perfect example of what mid-century architecture and design

represent, this renowned house located in Plano, Illinois is available
for visiting all year round.

The Farnsworth House is a vital part of American iconography, an exemplary representation of

both the International Style of architecture as well as the modern movement’s desire to
juxtapose the sleek, streamline design of modern structure with the organic environment of the
surrounding nature.

Stepping inside this iconic house, you can immediately feel the mid-century atmosphere that
reigns. The minimalist and uncomplicated furniture design used are the reflections of what
Mies Van der Rohe was trying to achieve.

The Farnsworth House is almost puritanical in its construction with simplified living quarters;
it was the intent of Mies for the house to lack walls, trim, or personal possessions.

The interiors are spare, with a central box of marine-grade ply and Primavera wood concealing a
closet and bathroom; a narrow kitchen, bedroom, and living space surround it.

The structure of the Farnsworth House is made of eight L-shaped steel columns to support roof and
floor frameworks and was designed by the architect for maximum lightness. The contrast between
the highly finished, white painted steel and the surroundings creates a floating effect.

The house was designed for the successful Chicago doctor Edith Farnsworth that, despite the early
great enthusiasm, became bitterly disappointed with the result due to its abstract minimalism. The
house was surprisingly difficult to live with.

Nevertheless, the Farnsworth House stands out as one of Mies’ most remarkable buildings for
its combined simplicity, conceptual elegance, and beauty.

The new owner, Peter Palumbo, removed the bronze screens van der Rohe had designed to
enclose the porch, extensively re-landscaped the property to accommodate his modern
sculpture collection and, most importantly, furnished the house with van der Rohe’s furniture.
Palumbo, after living in the house for 31 years, tried to sell it to the State of Illinois to be
turned into a museum. The state could not bring itself to spend the $7 million and the house
was put up for sale. The Friends of the Farnsworth House, the National Trust for Historic
Preservation, and Landmarks Illinois were jointly able to purchase the property. The house has
been restored to its pristine condition and is operated by the National Trust as a house museum.

The setting on the Fox River is extraordinary but it does come with it’s drawbacks. The
floating terrace was not named as such because of local flooding but increased flooding
remains a significant problem for the museum. In September of 2008, Hurricane Ike inundated
the Fox River causing massive flooding and water rising 18 inches above the Farnsworth
House’s travertine floors. Several options for resolving the issue include elevating the house,
installing hydraulic lifts to raise the house in times of flood, or relocating the house. The last,
being the most drastic, would completely alter this masterpiece.

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