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Research Paper | Architecture & Planning | India | Volume 9 Issue 12, December 2020
Impact of Less is More in Present Time
Surbhi Porwal [3] | Suman Sharma [19]
Abstract: Famous architect mies van der rohe used this phrase to describe how he thought buildings should be constructed. Inspirations- the Prussian architect Karl fried rich schinkel, use of post and lintel construction, dutch de stijl philosophy of simplicity architecture and Russian constructivism to benefit society. Less complicated is better understood and more appreciated than what is more complicated. Simplicity is preferable to complexity. The renowned architect, Mies van der Rohe, revolutionized the sphere of architecture by adopting the famous aphorism less is more in his buildings. The concept of Minimalism, which was seen in artworks, was adopted into architecture. He borrowed from the art theory which talks about the object qualities and aesthetics. Mies buildings called masterpieces‟ encompass this theory which shows that architecture can also be an art, just like painting or sculpture. With specific reference to one of Mies‟s very famous „work of art‟, the „Farnsworth house‟, this paper will try to illustrate how the concept „less is more‟ is beautifully incorporated into the architecture of this building, thereby show casing the perfect coalescence that exists between Mies and minimalism. Mies van der Rohe adopted this movement in architecture at a time when it was the age of rationalization, structural rigidity, and mass production. His buildings were simple in form, had minimum use of material like steel, glass, and concrete, but were aesthetically immaculate. They were neither an imitation of any works from the past nor were they based on any social ideas or individual emotions. They were like a moment in history. They were self-referential, like any work of art (Mertins, 2014).
Keywords: minimalism, less, more, mies, architecture
Edition: Volume 9 Issue 12, December 2020,
Pages: 202 - 211