Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is one of the most important figures in contemporary architecture, the philosophical soul of the modern movement. Born in Aachen, in 1886, with the name of Maria Ludwig Michael Mies, he spent his life between the European avant-gardes and the American modernity. During his childhood, van der Rohe attended the school of arts and crafts, making practice with local artisans. When he was 19, he moved to Berlin where studied at the Academy of fine arts and worked in Peter Behrens’s studio, one of the masters of architecture, collaborating with Gropius and Le Corbusier. In a short time Ludwig Mies van der Rohe became one of the leading exponent of modern architecture, teaching at the Bauhaus school. His theoretical research of the truth in architecture pushed him towards Saint Augustine and Tommaso d’Acquino’s thought. In 30s because of nazi persecution, he moved to America. Among his most important works are: Barcellona Pavilion, Seagram Building in New York and Farnsworth house.