Design Classics by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe 

Among Mies van der Rohe's architectural masterpieces one could find The Barcelona Pavilion (1929), The New Yorker skyscraper Seagram Building (1958), and Farnsworth House (1951), which shows minimalism in its extreme, being constructed of a simple glass box to play with the idea of space and the fusion of the indoors and outdoors.

It’s also worth mentioning that the designer Lilly Reich was a close collaborator with Mies van der Rohe and both were appointed artistic directors for the monumental German Pavilion in Barcelona, where the geometry of the pavilion combined with the materials, consisting of glass, steel and four different types of stone truly expressed the utopian ideals of modernity. Lilly Reich and Mies worked together on different projects between 1925 -1938. Reich’s background was from the Wiener Werkstätte in Vienna, which’s philosophy highlighted the importance of the symbiosis of all arts in a project and like in the Barcelona Pavilion, the furniture was often sketched to be an extension of the space.

Modern design classics by Mies van der Rohe

Mies van der Rohe stands as a visionary in modern design, creating furniture pieces that embody his principles of simplicity, elegance, and functionality. His classic designs have become enduring icons, celebrated for their clean lines and timeless appeal.

The Barcelona Chair in its natural habitat at the Barcelona Pavilion - the German contribition at the International Exposition in Barcelona 1929. The Pavillion was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich.

1.Barcelona Chair

The Barcelona Chair, an embodiment of Mies’s elegant simplicity, is undoubtedly one of the most iconic design pieces from the 20^th century. Designed for the German pavilion at the universal exhibition in Barcelona 1929, the chair has a beautiful blend of the craftmanship of the leather upholstery and base of the sleek steel, where the x shape was inspired by Egyptian folding chairs. The first chairs and stools, exhibited in the pavilion, was produced in white kid leather and was intended for the Spanish King to sit in. The Barcelona Chair and the rest of the collection for the Barcelona pavilion consisting of Barcelona Stool, the daybed Barcelona Couch and Barcelona Table, a coffee table in glass are all still in production by Knoll.

Despite the contemporary look, the MR Chair was actually designed in the 1920's.

2.MR Chair

The MR Chair was introduced to the market in 1927 and was influenced by the classically shaped Bentwood Chair of the 19^th century. The tubular steel cantilever chair was a huge success and has been copied in one form or another all over the world. The name MR is an homage to his Bauhaus colleague Marcel Breuer and the MR Chair’s design is also influenced by Breuer’s avantgarde piece Wassily Lounge Chair from 1925. Mies van der Rohe’s MR collection also consist of MR Table, MR Lounge Chair, Mr Stool and MR Adjustable Chaise Lounge. The exquisite design of the MR collection is a clear expression of Mies van der Rohe’s famous maxim “less is more”. 

3.Brno Chair

he Brno Chair was first designed in 1930, exclusively for the interior of Mies van der Rohe´s architectural gem Tugend Hat House in Brno, Czech Republic. This design, that perfectly reflects Mies’s innovative aesthetic, comes in tubular or flat bars and upholstery in leather, Brno Chair is still in production by Knoll.