The Presence of Mies

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, one of this century's most important and influential architects, has alternately been revered and reviled. The Presence of Mies is a collection of essays that take a fresh look at the work of this controversial architect. By bringing together a group of authors from a variety of disciplines, unexpected perspectives have been brought to bear on Mies, opening up new ways of thinking about his work.The essays discuss Mies's buildings, writings, and teaching in relation to technology, image culture, philosophy, art, and education. Contributors include George Baird, Brian Boigon, Beatriz Colomina, K. Michael Hays, Dan Hoffman, Rosalind Krauss, Sanford Kwinter, Phyllis Lambert, Detlef Mertins, Fritz Neumeyer, and Ben Nicholson.The Presence of Mies is a beautifully presented book with excellent photos of Mies's architectural monuments and numerous clear reproductions of his drawings and designs. -- Dirk de Schutter, Archis