RR13 Due April 18- Criticising Future

Criticising Future
Farnsworth House

·         Designed by Mies van der Rohe

·         Elevated the home because of a nearby river that would flood

·         Podium elevated as well with stairs up to the house’s platform

·         Two sets of four columns support the roof

·         All glass no solid walls

·         Two zones- Bathroom/Kitchen as one

·         Curtains not originally built for the home but then added for privacy and to keep the sun out

In my opinion this is a very nice home. It is starting a new era of homes that don’t have to have walls. I think that he did this exact style because the area it is in has nothing around it to be self conscious about having your life viewed by others. It is in the middle of trees and fields where it is almost as if you’re living in the nature because of the glass. I think the real criticism is why try this? This is farfetched in trying new styles. People were used to the traditional walls, separate rooms, and privacy. Mies went away from that to create one big open space with all glass to almost make it seem as though you didn’t have anything separating you and nature.  Although in reality it is not a comfortable home because of the heat and being in a glass box the overall concept of trying to open up living spaces is going in a direction that could be perfected. In aspect with Eames homes I think they’re both very similar. Eames instead of all glass had some walls added. Glass as a material for a entire house just shows that the structure is sound. The concept of buildings as skeletons and skins the Farnsworth house is all skeleton. BY having glass as a skin it shows the support being sound because glass would not be used to support.  That also was starting to be a modern thing showing the skeleton of buildings such as the cast iron and steel buildings where you get see a lot of the foundation and supports. I believe it also has a decorative use to it if they are shown right. No one is used to change. Criticism will be everywhere at all times. How you build upon the criticism and further your designs is where people will realize change and that modernizing is actually a good thing.  I think Mies design of this home was a definite good way to start a new way of how to modernize not only will glass but that glass can be walls.