Farnsworth House, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

The Farnsworth House is one of the most famous projects of the architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Designed and built, between 1945 and 1951, as a weekend house, with the block of services at the center. It is located in a once rural setting, 80 kilometers west-southwest of Chicago, near the Fox River, south of the town of Plano. The glass and steel house was commissioned by Dr. Edith Farnsworth, who wanted a place where she could enjoy nature and devote herself to her hobbies. Mies created a 140 m² house which has become one of the symbols of the modern movement. The building was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2006. In September 2008 the house was flooded by rains, due to the collapse caused by Hurricane Ike. Water that reached 1.5 m above the ground submerged the floor by almost half a meter. Many pieces of furniture were saved by floating. The house was closed for public visits for renovations throughout 2008 and reopened in spring 2009.