Farnsworth House facts for kids
|
Edith Farnsworth House
|
|
 |
|
| Nearest city | Plano, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Area | 206 square metres (2,220 sq ft) |
| Built | 1951 |
| Architect | Ludwig Mies van der Rohe |
| Architectural style | International Style, Modernist |
| NRHP reference No. | 04000867 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | October 7, 2004 |
| Designated NHL | February 17, 2006 |
The Edith Farnsworth House is a famous house designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe between 1945 and 1951. It was built as a one-room weekend getaway in the countryside of Plano, Illinois. This location is about 60 miles (96 km) southwest of Chicago. The special house, made of steel and glass, was ordered by Edith Farnsworth.
Mies created a 1,500-square-foot (140 m2) building. It is known as a great example of the International Style of architecture. The house became a National Historic Landmark in 2006. It was first listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. Today, the National Trust for Historic Preservation owns and runs it as a museum.
In 2018, the Farnsworth House was chosen as one of Illinois's 200 great places. This was part of the Illinois Bicentennial celebration. USA Today Travel magazine also recognized it as one of Illinois's "25 Must See Buildings."
Contents
Building the Farnsworth House
The architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was hired by Edith Farnsworth in 1945. She wanted him to design a special weekend home. Farnsworth was a wealthy client who wished for a unique piece of modern architecture. However, a disagreement happened between them near the end of the building process.
Farnsworth bought the nine-acre property by the river from the owner of the Chicago Tribune. Mies finished the design in time for an exhibition of his work. This show was at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1947. Building started in 1950 and was mostly done by 1951.
The house cost $74,000 in 1951. This was more than the first budget of $58,400. The extra cost was due to rising material prices. These prices went up because of the Korean War. Near the end of construction, the architect sued Farnsworth for not paying. Farnsworth then sued him back. The court decided that Farnsworth had approved the plans and extra costs. She was ordered to pay her bills.
Changes and New Owners
In 1968, the local highway department took a small part of the property. They needed it to build a raised highway bridge over the Fox River. This bridge came too close to the house. Farnsworth tried to stop the project but lost in court. She sold the house in 1972 and moved to Italy.
In 1972, a British art collector named Peter Palumbo bought the house. He made some changes to it. He added air conditioning and electric heat. He also brought his art collection, including sculptures, to the grounds. The inside of the house was furnished with furniture designed by Mies.
In 2001, Palumbo made a deal with the state of Illinois to sell the house for $7 million. The state planned to open it to the public. However, state officials backed out of the deal in 2003. They said it was too much money during a financial crisis.
After owning the house for 31 years, Palumbo put it up for sale in 2003. This made many people worried about the house's future. Groups like the Friends of the Farnsworth House worked hard to raise money. They wanted to keep the house on its original site. With their help, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Landmarks Illinois bought the house in December 2003 for $7.5 million. Now, the Farnsworth House is a museum. It is open to the public with tours given by the National Trust.
House Design and Features
The Farnsworth House has clear and unique features. It uses a lot of clear, floor-to-ceiling glass. This makes the inside feel very open to nature. Two flat, horizontal slabs form the roof and the floor. They create an open space for living in between them. The edges of these slabs are made of white steel parts.
The house is raised 5 feet 3 inches (1.6 m) above the ground. This protects it from floods. Eight steel columns hold up the house. These columns are attached to the sides of the floor and ceiling slabs. A third floating slab, a terrace, connects the living area to the ground. You can reach the house by two sets of wide steps.
Mies wanted to create an open space that people could use flexibly. The inside looks like one big open room. The space flows around two wooden blocks. One is a wardrobe cabinet. The other holds a kitchen, toilet, and fireplace (called the "core"). This core seems like a smaller house inside the larger glass house. The building is one large room with movable pieces. These pieces create different areas for sleeping, cooking, eating, and sitting. Private areas like toilets are inside the core.
Mies used this idea of open space in his later buildings. A famous example is Crown Hall. The idea of a single, flexible room, enclosed in glass, and supported by a minimal frame, defines Mies's work in America. The Farnsworth House was his first complete example of this idea. It was a model for his vision of modern architecture.
Architecture and Its Meaning
The Farnsworth House shows how people connect with society. Mies believed that in the modern world, people cannot control everything. But he thought people should live in harmony with their time. He searched for architecture that truly showed the spirit of his era. He saw our time as an age of industrial mass production and fast technology. Mies wanted architecture to help people feel connected to this new society.
His answer was to create buildings with open space inside a simple frame. He used exposed structural columns. He believed his architecture showed ideals and hopes. His designs are a physical expression of his understanding of the modern age. He gave people flexible space to be themselves, even in a modern industrial culture. The materials he used, like steel and plate glass, show the modern era. But he also used luxurious materials like stone and wood. Mies accepted the challenges of industrial society. He showed how technology could be beautiful and support individuals.
Connecting people with nature is a big challenge in cities. The 60-acre (24 ha) rural site gave Mies a chance to focus on this. He highlighted the connection to nature through a man-made shelter. Mies said: "We should attempt to bring nature, houses, and the human being to a higher unity.” Glass walls and open space create a strong link with the outdoors. The design carefully blends the house with its natural setting.
Mies saw the house as a shelter that was both separate from and connected to nature. He chose to build it on the flood plain near the river. This was a risky choice. The enclosed space and porch are raised five feet (1.5 m) above the ground. This is just above the 100-year flood level.
The house feels independent but also strongly connected to the land. The different levels of the house match the levels of the site. This is like the horizontal balconies and rocks at Wright's Fallingwater.
The house was once in the shade of a large black maple tree. This tree was removed in 2013. The entrance is on the sunny side, facing the river. This makes visitors walk around corners. It reveals different views of the house as they approach. The simple shape of the house is parallel to the river. The terrace platform is slightly downstream from the main living area. Outdoor spaces were designed to be extensions of the indoor space. This included an open terrace and a screened porch. The house's geometric shapes are highlighted by its white color. This shows that it is man-made, distinct from nature.
Living with Nature's Challenges
Natural Setting
The Farnsworth House sits alone on a floodplain facing the Fox River. This shows the architect's idea of simple living. Open views from all sides of the house make the living space feel larger. They also help the flow between the inside and the natural surroundings.
Because it is on a floodplain, the Farnsworth House stands as an independent structure. It is built with steel, concrete, natural stone, and glass. The white-painted steel forms the structure that supports the floor and ceiling. The floor has heating coils inside. The outside walls are made of 1/4-inch-thick glass panels.
Flooding Issues
Due to its location, the Farnsworth House often experiences small floods. Even with the design precautions, water has risen significantly inside the house many times.
- 1954: Three years after the house was finished, flood waters rose over 2 feet (0.6 m) inside.
- 1996: Heavy rainfall caused widespread flash flooding. The water rose over 5 feet (1.5 m) inside the house. This caused a lot of damage to utilities, wood, glass, and furniture.
- 1997: About 2 inches (5 cm) of water entered the house. After this, Peter Palumbo started a costly repair project.
- 2008: The house was flooded by rains from Hurricane Ike. Water levels reached about 18 inches (46 cm) above the floor. Much of the furniture was saved by lifting it. The house was closed for repairs and reopened in spring 2009.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is working on a plan to protect the house from future floods.
Other Buildings Nearby
Barnsworth Gallery
In 2011, it was announced that the Illinois Institute of Technology would build a special place for a wardrobe. This wardrobe was designed for the Farnsworth House by Edith Farnsworth. It was badly damaged in the 1996, 1997, and 2008 floods. It was too big and heavy to move easily during floods. To protect it, curators decided to display it permanently near the visitor center. This area is much higher than the flood plain. Students from the Illinois Institute of Technology designed and built the Barnsworth Gallery. It now houses the wardrobe and serves as an exhibition space.
Renaming the House
On November 17, 2021, Edith Farnsworth's birthday, the house was officially renamed the Edith Farnsworth House. This happened during a special event streamed online. The renaming was to honor Edith Farnsworth's contributions to the house's design. It also recognized her achievements as a research doctor, classical violinist, poet, translator, and supporter of the arts. Scott Mehaffey, the executive director, said they hoped adding her first name would help her be remembered in the history of modern architecture.
Gallery
-
The exterior
-
Interior in 2013
-
interior in 2013
-
Underside of house. Note the tube in the center of the house designed as a single point of entry for all the building's utilities.
-
Patio
-
Rear of house (kitchen visible)
See also
In Spanish: Casa Farnsworth para niños
