Mies van der Rohe conceived of a participatory design structure in 1951 when he developed the Core House. This structure was intended to be finished by the people living in it. This adaptable model asked questions about the validity of certain architectural precepts, investigated emerging industrial technologies, and presented a modular housing solution with the goal of enhancing housing quality while lowering costs.

Introduction to the Mies van der Rohe’s Core House concept

Mies van der Rohe's Core House — a Theoretical Project on the Essential Dwelling is the title of an article written by Luciana Fornari Colombo (2011). In this article, she states, "The Core House can be considered an outstanding example of a theoretical project, that is, of a project undertaken independently, as a self-imposed challenge." This kind of project allows the architect to more freely explore and develop generic architectural concepts that are intended for neither someone nor anywhere in particular but which have the potential to inspire future designs. In this sense, theoretical projects do not refer to undertakings that have not been built. They offer the possibility of bringing architecture to the edge of its disciplinary boundaries, which is an acceptable opportunity.

And according to Myron Goldsmith, who collaborated in the design of the Core House, as quoted in Fornari's article: "the main ideas that Mies van der Rohe speculated and tested in this project were: architecture as background for people, absolute minimum use of elements, how far one could go in a unified space (what had to be closed, what could be opened), how far one could go in simplifying the unconventional living idea and how to live within it." This is according to Myron Goldsmith.

Background: What is the Core House exactly?

In 1945, the publication Arts and Building made public an incredible chance for innovation in residential architecture by announcing the 'Case Study Houses' Program, which would run for a period of twenty years. The objective was to offer solutions for the design and construction of straightforward and cost-effective architectural models that could be used everywhere in the world. Following that, the program responded to a need to assist individuals in rebuilding their lives in the post-war era in the United States. This need arose due to the return of millions of soldiers to their homes following World War II.

Six years later, in 1951, Mies van der Rohe created the Core House as a personal study project. He did not get any financial backing from a customer for this endeavor. The product design process included contributions from both Myron Goldsmith and Illinois Institute of Technology students. The design for the project called for a square area to be encased with a glass facade and to have three H-shaped columns on the exterior to support the flat roof. Instead of erecting walls, the interior space could be laid up in any configuration that worked best around the service core by using furniture, movable partitions, and drapes. According to Fornari, "The Core House was designed to be flexible with regard to both families and locations." To achieve this goal, the home might be constructed on a square lot of 40, 50, or 60 feet (12.19, 15.24, or 18.28 m), and it could have various service core layouts. According to another of Fornari's statements, "opened in all directions to the surrounding landscape through big glass panels, the home has little visual impediments... other than the thin columns." These columns are not in their typical location, which creates the impression that the ceiling is a light floating plane and emphasizes the sense of continuity throughout the room.

Mies van der Rohe also recommended modifications in the models' size and the service core's organization for a fairly customized adaption. These were some of the variations. (Archilogic is at our disposal now!)

The following year, in 1951, the Chicago Daily Tribune published an important piece on the Core House written by Anne Douglas (1952). It is headlined "Dinner in Yesterday's Bedroom — It's Possible in this Flexible Plan." Within this article, Mies is quoted as, "It's possible in this flexible plan." '...Within the past several years, we have had a dozen customers who have approached us with the desire to purchase a contemporary home priced between $30,000 and $40,000. We explained to them that it was difficult to calculate specific residences because the amount of work involved did not correlate with the price of the house... We have made an effort to find a solution to the issue because there appears to be a genuine need for residences like these.

Although the project has not received much attention in the discussion of the Case Study Houses program or architectural theory in general, the article that was previously cited, which was written by Luciana Fornari Colombo (2011) and titled 'Mies van der Rohe's Core House, a Theoretical Project on the Essential Dwelling,' is a very good read. The article was cited because it was written by Luciana Fornari Colombo (see bibliography).

In conclusion, Fornari states that "the Core House can also be considered a crystalline exemplar of modern architecture, expressing the historical and cultural context in which it was developed." The Core House is credited with innovating and influencing later designs as much as many built works. In addition, the Core House is credited with influencing many built works. Nevertheless, just as is the case with truly exceptional works of art, this endeavor will outlive its own generation. After so many decades, this house has not lost any of its innovative traits, and it continues to provide a contemporary solution to the day-to-day requirement of shelter. In addition to all of the influences and ramifications it had, the worth of this work resides not only in the fact that it had them but also in the fact that it had the effect of clarifying and addressing the fundamental concerns of architecture. This one-of-a-kind proposition exemplifies the attainment of a magnificent vitreous apparition that is virtually immaterial and limitless.

Archilogic interactive 3D floor plan

Formerly reserved solely for programmers, code is now being utilized by a new generation of designers, artists, and architects eager to investigate how software might enable novel ways of making shapes and communicating ideas. Archilogic has produced the web version of Mies van der Rohe's design. Navigate through the setting options, and select the layout that you prefer. And if you're feeling very ambitious, you can even change the interior arrangement of the house by using 3D modeling Add furniture or artwork, and do all this with the tools pre-installed in the software.