Farnsworth House Research
The second model for our Design Representation unit is an architectural model. I have chosen to make Farnsworth house. In this post I will be putting all of my contextual research for this unique building in one place.
Image 1
Designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for Dr Edith Farnsworth in 1945, the Farnsworth house is considered one of “the most iconic buildings … of the Modernist Movement” - farnsworthhouse.org . Located in Illinois, the house has a view of the Fox River and sits in both stark contrast and harmony with its surroundings. The perfect horizontal lines of the building match that of the flat landscape around it, the white l-beams matching the hard lines of the surrounding trees. However the whole structure is a bright, unnatural white with no curves to speak of and glass walls that, alongside the support beam stilts, give the whole building the illusion of levitation.
Image 2
The house is a perfect example of modernist architecture, with functionality and simplicity leading the design, exemplifying the ‘less is more’ philosophy of its architect. Its straight lines and hard man made materials are the very essence of the movement. As a model, the building will lend itself well to being made with man made materials such as card, metal or plastic, materials that lack natural imperfections. It also lends best to a model that can show it in context with its surroundings, as the contrast between them is just as important as the building’s design.
Image 3
Despite my personal dislike for modernism as a movement, I found myself drawn to the Farnsworth house. Perhaps because of its location being so very natural, the building stands out. It also has a very vulnerable yet isolated feeling. With walls made of glass, you can only imagine feeling exposed to the elements and the surrounding nature. The photographs of the house all seem to exaggerate the isolated feeling, framing the building alone in nature with seemingly nothing around for miles. The building itself also feels isolating. Its minimalistic design and colour scheme feel cold and clinical, a feeling only exaggerated by the gentle warmth of the nature surrounding it.
Image 4
This photograph of the house in winter caught my eye. The dark and cold of the season match the cold and isolated energy of the building itself, despite the festive lights inside. I am reminded of John Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’ (1982) and the true chilling loneliness that the snowy barren landscape exudes. It seems the only photograph where the building and its surroundings truly match and mingle. This photograph will likely be the main inspiration for my model moving forwards.
Links
Image 1 & 2: https://www.farnsworthhouse.org/gallery/
Image 3: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/mies-van-der-rohes-farnsworth-house-is-getting-temporarily-redecorated
Image 4: https://www.architecture.org/programs-events/detail/mod-merry-a-farnsworth-house-holiday/
Quote: https://www.farnsworthhouse.org/mies-van-der-rohe/
https://www.architecture.com/explore-architecture/modernism
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