Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Considered one of the most influential figures in the history of architecture, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe defined modernism with his "less is more" approach. After starting out in his father's master stonemason's workshop, he trained with designer Bruno Paul and architect Peter Behrens. In 1912 he opened his own studio in Berlin, distinguishing himself with innovative projects including the famous Barcelona Pavilion (1929), a masterpiece of fluid spaces and refined materials, which housed the iconic Barcelona Chair. Director of the Bauhaus from 1930 to 1933, he then moved to the United States, where he revolutionized institutional architecture with works such as the IIT campus and the Seagram Building. Florence Knoll, his student and admirer, obtained exclusive rights in 1948 for the production of his furniture, including the Barcelona collection, the Brno Chair and the MR series, today icons of modern design.