Mies van der Rohe / MIES & the legacy of modernism
10 Apr 2016 - 7 Aug 2016
Along with Le Corbusier and Walter Gropius, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is considered to be one of the founding fathers of modern architecture. During his career, ‘Mies’ designed image-defining buildings in Barcelona, Berlin, Chicago and New York, as well as iconic furniture. His creations are founded on an artisanal love of materials.
Where
SCHUNCK Glaspaleis
Mies van der Rohe continues to inspire architects, even today. However, his buildings are now falling into disrepair, or are in need of a new purpose. In a world in which many recent monuments are standing vacant, this is becoming an increasingly important issue. As such, key questions are being raised in both Europe and America as to what must be preserved and how and why this should done.
It is precisely this topic which was addressed by SCHUNCK’s exhibition, ‘MIES & The legacy of modernism’. The exhibition was devoted to the future of modern architecture, with the focus on five international masterpieces and the modernist legacy of Heerlen and the Parkstad region. The exhibition displayed five of Mies Van der Rohe’s major works which have undergone renovation: a twenty-metre wide film projection of these was a world première. The images enabled visitors to experience the unique ambiance, materiality and functional value of Mies’ buildings. Drawings, original materials and scale models provided an insight into the meticulous renovation processes. Visitors were also given an overview of eighty buildings and several items of replica furniture. It was a comprehensive exhibition and one which was unmissable for all architects and connoisseurs.
MIES X SCHUNCK
Mies was a major source of inspiration in the development of Heerlen. Over one hundred buildings from the first half of the twentieth century still define the identity of the city and its environs, even today. Some buildings in Heerlen are well-known (for example, the Royal cinema, the theatre, the fire station and the retreat centre), others not so. ‘MIES & the legacy of modernism’ attempts to lay bare these treasures. The ‘Glaspaleis’ designed by Frits Peutz (1933) is such a building. On two occasions it almost came under the wrecking ball. Now it stands as a paragon of successful renovation – carried out by Jo Coenen and Wiel Arets - and redevelopment. SCHUNCK Glaspaleis is one of the 1,000 most important buildings of the 20th century.
Lots of side events were organised around the exhibition. For example, conferences and presentations about attitudes to the modernist legacy. Expert speakers provided in-depth know-how on one of more of the five Mies projects in the exhibition. These conferences were organised in collaboration with OMA, Chipperfield Architects and Ivo Hammer at the universities in Eindhoven, Hasselt, Liège and Aachen. City trails dedicated to modernism in Heerlen were also organised, as well as various guided tours, excursions and film screenings.
Press
Volkskrant
De Volkskrant gave the exhibition a four-star rating:
Heerlen heeft schatten in huis dankzij erfenis Mies van der Rohe
Dagblad de Limburger
DDL-20160407 Onze relatie met Mies
DDL-20160412 Scholieren bedenken nieuwe toekomst voor modernistische gebouwen in Heerlen.pdf
DDL-20160414 Heerlen wilde erbij horen
De Architect
De Architect published an article about the exhibition and has also written a blog on the subject.
De Architect 20160426 – Mies in Heerlen watching the detectives – blogs
De Architect 20160510- Mies van der Rohe centraal op internationale expositie
ArchitectuurNL
2016-03 ArchitectuurNL – Mies en de erfenis van het modernisme – Chirurgenwerk
Aachener Zeitung
Aachener Zeitung 151216 Wie gehen wier mit seinem Erbe um
Aachener Zeitung 160326 Der Aachener Baumeister als Kunstler