A Miesian Revital izationVisitors of the Farnsworth House need to be greeted with more enthusiasm than that of a small white barn off the side of a rural hghway. They need to be met with a building that is more than just a visitor center. Miesian ideals really give visitors the full Mies experience from learning about Mies’ other notable projects in the gallery to actually seeing first-hand the majesty of the Farnsworth House itself. People will see many Miesian moves before prior to their Plano site experience, without spoiling it. With a new prominent impact in its location, it will be hard to miss this visitor center/ art gallery dedicated to one of the world’s greatest architects and showcasing one of its most innovative historical projects.

Plano, Illinois

Tour Paths to Farnsworth

Facing Gallery from Patio Space Miesian Cruciform Column Detail

Miesian Cruciform Column Detail

Multi-Purpose

Lobby / Gift Shop

Projects Gallery

Conference Room

BR

Mech.

Public Patio Space

Break Room

Public/ Private Patio Space

BR

Catering Kitchen

Stor.Staff Offices

Barnsworth Gallery (Unchanged)

Current Visitor Center (Storage)

Visitor/ Staff Parking

To and from Farnsworth House

Rented Land (Corn Field)

40 Feet 8 Feet

Site Plan Scale: 1/16” = 1’

South Face ElevationScale: 1/16” = 1’

Longitudinal Section Scale: 1/16” = 1’

Reflecting Pool

Open Frontal Greenspace

The material strategy for the visitor center is rooted in Mies’ Barcelona Pavilion as a precedent. The goal was to take inspiration from how the Barcelona Pavilion decomposes a simple geometry to form spaces. Adding multiple shapes to deconstruct and assigning materials to each set allows for the entire body of the building to be derived from four shapes and four materials, being green marble, matte finished metal-panelled walls, floor to cieling glazing, and wooden gallery walls complemented by the Miesian signiture flooring material; Roman travertine. The materials all complement the works of Mies as well as incorperated a more modern asthetic material in the metal panelling.

The gallery at the heart of the visitor center is the most important space for experiencing Mies and learning about his projects. Within the gallery, one will see and learn about his most notable pieces including Farnsworth House through pictures on the walls and through model displays within. With low wooden dividing walls, cruciform columns, long marble walls, and huge glass panes, the gallery space showcases the goal of Miesian education to all of its visitors before and after the tours!

A Miesian History

Wooden Wall Composition

Metal-Panelled Wall Composition

Glazing Wall Compsition

Green Marble Wall Composition

Material Compositions

Back Side of Gallery Front Entrance of Gallery

Compiled Material Wall Composition

Glass

Wood

Metal

Marble

Along the newer tour path is the new Farnsworth Pavilion. The pavilion will function as an event space for the visitor centers needs as well as a resting stop along the tour and a pleasent place to be on a visit to Farnsworth. The pavilion has the basic geometry of the Farnsworth house, alluding to it on your way there. Adding to the allusion, South of the Event Space is a man-made pond steming from the Fox River. This relates to the actual river next to Farnsworth as well as acting as a flood mitigation tool. At its core are as set of bathrooms, the only interior of the pavillion, and is self sustaining. The space will use a rain water collection agent under grade to clean and reuse water for the bathrooms in a closed loop system. It will certainly be a must for visitors to check out!

A Hint of Farnsworth

Circulation

Material Compositions

Public

Private

Underneath the outdoor event space tensile structure

Shot taken from south end of building displaying how the roof lays on the structure and a view of the Barnsworth circulation

Exterior Overview of the Event Space

Rendered Floor Plan