But Mies, Where's the Diving Board?

I have many favorite things. Two things I really consider to be among my favorites are architecture and infrastructure. I get especially excited when some of my favorite things work together creating something beautiful and perhaps unexpected which may add another layer of meaning. Mies van der Rohe's Farnsworth House is an example that has just recently been demonstrated as such during last weeks storms in the midwest United States.


The Farnsworth house is located near Plano IL, situated in a flood plain facing the Fox River. Given the site is subject to occasional flooding Mies used an ordering system of piers which elevated the main floor 5'-3" off of the ground. This iconic mid-century modern home floats over the site while the buildings perpedicular cross axis confronts the river head on with an entry, elevated patio and a wide set of stairs as if to invite and flirt with the river. Well, last week the river took the house up on its invite and these pretty photos showed up in my in-box.



Since these pixs were emailed with a thread longer than the wall of China I have no idea on the source of these images. I'd like to be able thank and give credit to whomever took these pixs. If anyone knows please post a comment. If you'd like to know more about the Farnsworth House you can visit the home page and Landmarks Illinois news page. Thanks to Israel Kandarian for initially emailing the pixs.