Ludwig Mies van der Rohe: The Tugendhat House [Hardcover]

Daniela Hammer-Tugendhat (Editor), Wolf Tegethoff (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 24, 1999

The Tugendhat House in Brno (Czech Republic) was planned and built by Mies van der Rohe from 1928–1930, and is universally regarded not only as one of his masterpieces, but also as one of the most important buildings of European Modern architecture. What makes this monograph particularly fascinating is the fact that it presents previously unpublished photographs belonging to the Tugendhat family. These show the house as it was when it was first lived in. The facade and the roof terrace are, as the architect had envisioned, covered with climbers and creepers, thus making it clear that the architecture of the house and the landscaped garden were conceived as a whole. A representative collection of plans and drawings from Mies van der Rohe’s atelier can also be seen for the first time. Carefully produced photographs of the original furniture in the family’s possession, much of which has never been shown, are also included. Essays by Wolf Tegethoff, Franz Schulze, and Ivo Hammer give a detailed analysis of the significance of the Tugendhat House in the context of Mies van der Rohe’s architecture as a whole, as well as the living concepts of Modern architecture, to which Mies made such a decisive contribution. Daniela Hammer-Tugendhat applies herself to the key question as to how habitable the Tugendhat House was, based on her personal recollections and texts written by her parents.

Editorial Reviews

Review

" ... a complete picture of the house, its construction and its turbulent history ...” The Architectural Review (eigelangt 21.9.00) "... Beside ... personal collections, the book contains a full account of the house’s later vicissitudes, including a botched attempt at renovation in the 1980s and the problems that must be adressed now.” The Architects’ Journal 8/2000

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

Product Details

• Hardcover: 170 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (November 24, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3211830650
• ISBN-13: 978-3211830659
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 8.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,354,627 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing stuff...., February 25, 2010

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hrhdavey - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe: The Tugendhat House (Hardcover)

This book is a must for any fan of modern architecture. The interviews with the family are what are the most interesting aspects of this publication, and put the house in a human context. Architecture books rarely talk about how people functioned in the space, and if they do, it is not in great detail. This book really does turn this famous, "untouchable", far away structure into a family home with the myriad of family photos and recollections. It also discusses fairly thoroughly the fate of the house after the family fled in 1938, which is one of the more interesting parts of this homes history. Definitely worth the investment!

5.0 out of 5 stars Architectural Icon as Home, February 27, 2009

By 

E. Jarolin (Wyoming, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe: The Tugendhat House (Hardcover)

A thorough account of the turbulent history of Mies van der Rohe's most notable European residence. Several contributors explore the design, construction and critical reaction to this icon of modern architecture; its wartime occupation, postwar expropriation and subsequent uses; the depredations, from looting to bomb damage to botched restoration. The highlights of the book are the recollections of the Tugendhats' themselves as conveyed in an essay by Daniela Hammer-Tugendhat. Spirited defenses of the houses livability by the clients, as published in architecture journals of the day, are also included. These, along with the many family photos reproduced here, remind us that this was a home for living as well as a work of art.

Well illustrated with plans, elevations, perspective drawings, b&w photos and a small number of contemporary color photos. A comprehensive catalog of the original furniture, along with color photos of some of the surviving pieces, is here as well.

All in all, a worthwhile addition to any Mies fan's library.