Farnsworth House, (Plano, IL); 1951; Modernist
The Farnsworth House is a steel and glass house that was designed by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. It was built in 1951 and it was commissioned by Dr. Edith Farnsworth, a nephrologist, because she decided that it would be a good place for her to fulfill her hobbies, which were playing the violin, enjoying nature, and translating poetry. The Farnsworth House is considered one of most iconic masterpieces of the International Style of architecture. It became a part of the National Register of Historic Places in 2014 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2016. The house is currently being owned by a historic preservation group called National Trust for Historic Preservation, and is being operated as a historic house museum. It was used as a private house for Dr. Edith Farnsworth until 2003 when it became a public museum. The Farnsworth House is located in a once rural setting on the edge of the Fox River, just south of Plano, Illinois. Plano is a small city that is l...