Mies van der Rohe: A Critical Biography (Paperback)

~ (Author) "In 1905 Mies van der Rohe, then Ludwig Mies, boarded a train in Aachen, the city of his birth, and headed for Berlin for good..." (more)
Key Phrases: onyx wall, exposition house, freestanding walls, New York, World War, Crown Hall (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

A biography of the man and his ideas, with secondary emphasis on the build ings. Schulze (Art, Lake Forest Col lege) has had the full cooperation of the Mies Archives at the Museum of Mod ern Art and has done extensive re search and interviews with Mies's con temporaries, students, and intimates. The picture of Mies which emerges is honest and detailed, fair and balanced. Coupled with David Spaeth's Mies van der Rohe ( LJ 5/1/85), which is more de tailed on Mies's architecture, Schulze's book gives a picture in the round. It is well written and flows smoothly, with particularly good attention to Mies's youth in Aachen and the background of Weimar culture. Occasionally one misses illustrations which the narrative implies, but this is still an excellent book. Recommended. Jack Perry Brown, Art Inst. of Chicago Libs.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

Franz Schulze's acclaimed biography is a captivating story of the life, designs, and ideas that made Mies van der Rohe one of the world's most celebrated modern architects.

Product Details

• Paperback: 380 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press (October 15, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226740609
• ISBN-13: 978-0226740607
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #314,042 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A thorough look at the mysterious Mies Van der Rohe, September 25, 1999

By A Customer

While much is known about the works or Mies van der Rohe, little is ever revealed about the man himself. After reading Franz Schulze's book I found myself reflecting quite deeply on my own direction in the great field of Architecture.

Schulze gives readers a honest perspective on the mysterious personality of Mies. He tells much about his marital life, his relationship with his daughters, and his political life; three aspects of the man which had significant influence on his career.

In the end Mies is painted as one who did what was necessary to become great, but never lost sight of the true essence of arguably the most influential of all art forms.

Schulze appears to have a deep respect for Mies and is therefore very frank in this book. However, he is not merely spouting rhetoric. Much of the biography is based on interviews with those close to Mies, including his grandson, Dirk Lohan, who himself is a successful architect in the Chicago area.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Text on Mies van der Rohe, July 2, 2008

By	Nicholas T. Fox (Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a great book you'll come back to again and again and if you don't have it, then your library is incomplete. Shulze has obviously did his research and come up with a readable and fascinating story that tracks Mies's work all the way from Aachen to Chicago. I can't say enough in praise of this work. Where other authors skim the surface when writing about Mies and his work, Schulze dives deeply into the pond and reveals some fascinating background information on the man, his time and his work. I cannot recommend this book enough and feel it should be a text for all architectural students. My only regret is that I should have read it 20 years ago.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Personal Review and Plea for a Reprint of this Gem, February 13, 2000

By A Customer

As a fan of modernism and a resident in a Mies Van Der Rohe-designed Commonwealth Plaza building in Chicago, I have an acute appreciation for Mies' vision and mastery of form and function in architecture. I borrowed this book from a friend and was mesmerized by the depth in which Mr. Schulze chronicled some of Mies' best works. I received incredible insight into the philosophy of this master architect. The text was accompanied by black and white photos of the buildings and designs and was perfectly matched. The black and white layout of the book focuses the reader on the form of these buildings and its importance, thereby giving a glimpse of the thoughts behind the designs. The book is incredibly comprehensive and a must for anyone with an interest in architecture and modernism. Unfortunately, the book is not in print and I have been constantly searching for my own copy, preferably new. I hope that the University of Chicago Press, itself part of a highly-regarded academic institution, to quickly offer a reprint of this valuable book. I would love to obtain a hardcopy version, as I strongly feel that this is a collection-quality book.