Famous saying by “Mies Van Der Rohe” father of modern architecture. One would assume from the austerity and simplicity of modern architecture that detailing took a back stand in the buildings designed by the modernists.

Far from the truth as Mies Van Der Rohe was a pioneer in the Modernist style of Architecture. Mies buildings particularly the “Johnson House” looks deceptively simple as its devoid of any ornamentation and fulfills the other seemingly contradictory Famous statement of his “Less is More”.

So what does Mies mean when he says  “ARCHITECTURE IS IN THE DETAILS” & also says “LESS IS MORE”..the statements both are powerful but to a casual observer are so contradictory. I think I finally get it today………………feels like a light bulb flashed today..:)

I get it today as I finally understand why the “Farnsworth House” though devoid of any form of ornamentation still grips me today. I have stared at pictures of the building, intrigued as to why the building fascinated me as there were no exciting colors, ornamentation or dynamic forms.

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It’s in the details, the sizing, materials, proportions of the structural components. It’s not just in the finishes, the exciting & expensive dynamic forms, the materials………………..

It’s in how the building components are weaved together to form a harmonious whole……

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AS JEAN LABATUT APTLY SAID:

WHATEVER ARE THE SPACES, AREAS & DIMENSIONS INVOLVED, IT IS THE PRECISE STUDY & GOOD EXECUTION OF DETAILS  WHICH CONFIRM ARCHITECTURAL GREATNESS, THE DETAILS TELL THE TALE

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In the DETAILS are possibility of INNOVATION & INVENTION

Careful detailing is the most important means for avoiding building failure ethically & aesthetically.

The art of detailing is really the joining of materials, elements, components & building parts in a functional & aesthetic manner.

……………Marco Frascari