Mies van der Rohe's Farnsworth House (3 of 3)

Summary

The Farnsworth House, a masterpiece by architect Mies van der Rohe, faced a pivotal moment when Sotheby's listed it for auction, touting its portability. Preservationists, including art collectors and Chicago businessmen, rallied against the sale, viewing it as cultural theft. With only eight weeks to raise funds, they managed to secure the necessary amount in a dramatic auction, where Chicago art dealer Richard Gray played a pivotal role. The house, now a National Historic Landmark, stands as a testament to modernist architecture, drawing visitors from around the world to experience its architectural significance.

Takeaways

• 🏠 Sotheby's marketed the Farnsworth House's portability as a selling point, showcasing a 3D animation of the house being dismantled and moved.
• 🚫 The idea of moving the Farnsworth House out of Illinois was met with resistance, as it was seen as culturally insensitive and would lose its architectural significance.
• 💼 Two main groups emerged to save the house: art collectors and dealers, and Chicago businessmen who viewed the potential move as 'cultural theft'.
• 💵 A fierce fundraising campaign was launched with a tight deadline, aiming to raise enough money to purchase the house and keep it in its original location.
• 🕒 The preservationists were in a race against time, with only eight weeks to gather the funds needed to outbid potential buyers at the auction.
• 📈 The campaign saw a surge in donations, especially in the final hours before the auction, with key donors being convinced to contribute significantly.
• 🔨 The auction was intense, with bidding escalating quickly, and the preservationists reaching their funding limit at $6.6 million.
• 🎉 In a dramatic turn, Chicago art dealer Richard Gray continued bidding beyond the group's limit, using his own money to secure the house for $6.7 million.
• 🏛️ The Farnsworth House is now a national treasure, owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and managed by Landmarks Illinois, open to the public as a museum.
• 🌐 The house's preservation is seen as a success story, attracting visitors from around the world to experience its architectural significance and beauty.

Q & A

What was the main selling point highlighted by Sotheby's for the Farnsworth House?

Sotheby's highlighted the portability of the Farnsworth House as a selling point, showcasing a 3D animation of the home being dismantled and moved.

Why was the idea of moving the Farnsworth House controversial?

The idea was controversial because it was seen as culturally insensitive and potentially destructive to the architectural integrity of the house, which was designed with specific site conditions in mind, such as being on stilts to avoid flooding.

Who were the two groups that came to the rescue of the Farnsworth House?

The two groups were art collectors, art dealers, and people in the architectural world with significant financial resources, and a group of businessmen in Chicago who viewed the potential move as cultural theft.

What is meant by 'cultural theft' in the context of the Farnsworth House?

Cultural theft refers to the perception by Chicago civic groups that outsiders, particularly New Yorkers, were attempting to take away a culturally significant piece of architecture that belonged to Chicago.

How much time did the preservationists have to raise funds to purchase the Farnsworth House?

The preservationists had eight weeks to raise the funds necessary to purchase the Farnsworth House.

What was the final bid that secured the Farnsworth House for the preservationists?

The final bid that secured the Farnsworth House was six million seven hundred thousand dollars.

Who was the art dealer that played a significant role in the auction on behalf of the preservationists?

Renowned Chicago art dealer Richard Gray was the one who bid on behalf of the preservationists.

What was the emotional impact of winning the auction for the preservationists?

The preservationists experienced elation and a sense of immense accomplishment, with one board member suggesting that the experience was the pinnacle of their efforts and could not be bettered.

What is the current status of the Farnsworth House in terms of ownership and operation?

The Farnsworth House is now owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is operated and managed by Landmarks Illinois.

How is the Farnsworth House recognized in terms of historical and architectural significance?

The Farnsworth House has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, designated a National Historic Landmark, and is seen as an important piece of architecture and a national treasure.

What is the value of having the Farnsworth House open to the public as a museum?

Having the Farnsworth House open as a museum allows people from around the world to experience and understand the principles of modernism and the architectural philosophy distilled in the design of the house.

Outlines

00:00

🏡 The Battle to Preserve the Farnsworth House

The Farnsworth House, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, faced a potential dismantling and relocation. Sotheby's marketed the house's portability as a selling point, which sparked a preservationist movement. Two groups emerged to save the house: art collectors and dealers, and Chicago businessmen who viewed the relocation as 'cultural theft.' The preservationists had a tight deadline to raise funds to outbid potential buyers. The auction was highly competitive, with the preservationists led by Chicago art dealer Richard Gray. Despite reaching their funding limit, Gray continued bidding with his own money, ultimately securing the house for $6.7 million. The house remains a testament to modernist architecture and is now a museum open to the public, owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and managed by Landmarks Illinois.

05:02

🌐 Global Interest in the Farnsworth House

Following the successful preservation of the Farnsworth House, there has been a surge of interest from visitors worldwide. The house, now a museum, is open six days a week and has become a symbol of modernist architecture. The National Trust for Historic Preservation and Landmarks Illinois have ensured the house remains in its original setting, which is crucial for understanding its architectural significance. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated National Historic Landmark. Geoffrey Bear, a board member, emphasizes the house's importance not just as a piece of architectural history but as an 'architectural poem' that resonates emotionally with visitors.

Keywords

💡Farnsworth House

The Farnsworth House is a modernist architectural masterpiece designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, located in Illinois. It represents transparency and minimalism, designed to blend with its natural surroundings. In the video, the house is the central subject of a debate on cultural preservation versus commodification, as it was put up for auction and nearly relocated.

💡Portability

Portability in this context refers to the idea of moving the Farnsworth House from its original site in Illinois to another location. This concept becomes a selling point for Sotheby's but is viewed by preservationists as detrimental, as the house's significance is tied to its original setting, which reflects its architectural intent and historical value.

💡Preservationists

Preservationists are individuals or groups dedicated to maintaining and protecting historic or culturally significant structures in their original state and location. In the video, they play a key role in opposing the relocation of the Farnsworth House, arguing that its value is intrinsically linked to its original environment, and ultimately raise funds to keep it in place.

💡Cultural theft

Cultural theft is the concept of removing a cultural or historic artifact from its original community or context, seen as depriving the local culture of its heritage. In the video, the idea of moving the Farnsworth House out of Illinois is portrayed as cultural theft by Chicago businessmen and civic groups, who argue that relocating it would strip the region of an important cultural asset.

💡Auction

An auction is a public sale in which goods or property are sold to the highest bidder. The Farnsworth House was placed at auction by Sotheby's, creating a tense scenario where preservationists and other interested parties competed to keep the house in its original location. The auction is a climactic event in the video, representing the intersection of culture, money, and values.

💡National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a nonprofit organization that works to save America's historic places. After the successful bid to keep the Farnsworth House in Illinois, the organization took ownership, ensuring its protection and operation as a museum, which underscores the video's theme of preservation over commercial interests.

💡Modernism

Modernism is an architectural and artistic movement emphasizing simplicity, functionality, and the use of modern materials. The Farnsworth House is considered a quintessential example of modernist architecture. Its design reflects a philosophy of transparency, openness, and integration with its surroundings, which is a key reason preservationists argue for its importance and for keeping it in its original location.

💡Transparency

Transparency in architecture refers to a design principle where the structure visually connects the inside and outside, creating a sense of openness. The Farnsworth House embodies this concept through its glass walls and minimalist structure, which aims to harmonize with the natural landscape. The video's emphasis on transparency reflects the house's design philosophy and the rationale behind keeping it in its original setting.

💡Richard Gray

Richard Gray was a renowned Chicago art dealer who represented the preservationists in the bidding process for the Farnsworth House. His expertise and last-minute personal contribution were crucial in winning the auction, highlighting the unexpected twists in the effort to keep the house in Illinois and emphasizing the dedication of those involved in preserving cultural heritage.

💡National Historic Landmark

A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, or object recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. The Farnsworth House was designated as such after being saved at auction, marking its importance as an example of modernist architecture and underscoring the video's theme of cultural preservation and national heritage.

Highlights

Sotheby’s used a 3D animation to highlight the portability of the Farnsworth House, showcasing its potential to be dismantled and moved.

The core argument against moving the house was that its essence and meaning are deeply tied to its original location, especially considering its design with stilts to prevent flooding.

Two main groups came together to prevent the house from being moved: art collectors and architectural enthusiasts, and local Chicago businessmen who viewed it as cultural theft.

Chicago civic groups viewed the situation as an attempt by outsiders (New Yorkers) to take something deeply connected to Chicago’s cultural heritage.

The preservationists had only eight weeks to raise enough money to compete at the auction for the house.

The fundraising efforts culminated on the day of the auction, with half of the funds raised just hours before the bidding began.

At the last minute, key donors were convinced to give $2 million more by stressing the value of the land surrounding the Farnsworth House.

Renowned Chicago art dealer Richard Gray played a key role in bidding on behalf of the preservationists during the auction.

Despite reaching their financial limit during the auction, Gray surprised everyone by personally contributing additional funds.

The final bid of $6.7 million secured the house for the preservationists, preventing its relocation.

The Farnsworth House remained in Illinois, with the preservationists celebrating their victory.

Following the auction, the house saw increased interest from visitors worldwide, eager to experience its architectural significance.

The house is now operated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is open to the public six days a week.

The Farnsworth House is seen as a symbol of the best of modernist architecture, embodying a distilled architectural philosophy.

The house has since been listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark.

Transcripts

Sotheby's even made the portability of

the Farnsworth house a selling point by

posting on its website this 3d animation

of the home being dismantled move the

Farnsworth house out of Illinois I think

it would be a little bit awkward if not

ridiculous to put that house where it

never floods and then nobody would

understand why is on stilts the essence

of the house is this transparency to

this site that the building were removed

from this site it simply wouldn't make

any sense anymore for the

preservationist it was a call to battle

there were sort of two people that came

to our rescue and the issue of the

portability the house came out one group

were art collectors art dealers people

in the architectural world who had a lot

of money but there was another group of

people mainly businessmen in Chicago who

viewed this as an issue of cultural

theft what do you mean by cultural theft

well it's sort of the view a lot of the

Chicago civic groups that were

supportive us they view this as a bunch

of New Yorkers coming into Chicago gonna

try to steal something that didn't

belong to them when we organized to

raise the money we tried to make the

point that it would be destructive to

disassembly people from all over the

country were inspired by the cause

donations began pouring in but could the

dollars add up fast enough we only had

eight weeks to raise an amount of money

that we thought would do the job time is

dwindling and the fate of the Farnsworth

House hangs in the balance

December 12th 2003 in a skybox high

above the auction floor the

preservationist swayed for bidding to

begin and with just hours to go they're

still working to raise money it was an

enormously exciting day over half of the

money was raised in the last hours

before the auction at the last minute

they convinced key donors to give two

million more to the cause by stressing

the value of 38 acres of land that come

with the house but as the auction begins

the group is still short of the

predicted selling price you can sense

immediately that this has had a lot of

national attention and I remember

thinking man I do not want to go down in

front of fuse people losing this shot

for your consideration lot eight hundred

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe the

Farnsworth's house let's begin the

bidding at three million five hundred

thousand dollars at three million five

hundred thousand dollars three million

six hundred thousand dollars over the

next seven minutes

bidding plays out fast and furious three

million seven hundred thousand three

million eight hundred thousand four

million three hundred four million four

hundred thousand dollars renowned

Chicago art dealer Richard gray is the

man bidding on behalf of the

preservationist next minute at four

million seven hundred thousand dollars a

master of the game Gray has won several

high-profile auctions in the past we

were in a skybox sort of and I was

talking on the telephone to the

president of the auction house who was

conveying the bids of the auctioneer

eight four million eight hundred

thousand dollars five million five

hundred thousand a six million dollar as

the bids go even high six million one

hundred thousand the group throws in its

last dollar six six with bill at six

million six hundred thousand dollars but

the preservationist s-- are quickly

6:00 6:15 I'll take six 656 million six

hundred there's nothing left the group

has reached its limit you were out of

money we were out of money

I was pretty district I was pretty

disappointed but then Richard gray

surprises everyone when he starts to bid

again will you say six million seven

bill said six million seven

we weren't through I was still playing

the game we just immediately grabbed

rich and said you know you're on your

own sir in a last-ditch effort to win

gray is kicking in his own money Richard

just Brendan winked and he kept going it

just seemed like right after that the

hammer came down six million seven

hundred thousand dollars so fourteen

people gyrating and screaming and

hugging each other against all odds the

Illinois preservationists have won and

the Farnsworth House will stay where it

is

you really staked a lot on this house

you must have some very strong personal

feelings about it

it was elation of an incredible level a

board member of mine called me he said

there's nothing for you to do now but go

out and get the best meal you can

possibly get and then buy a gun and

shoot yourself because it's not gonna

get any better I remember the day after

we closed at the auction we got a call

from the caretakers saying that their

two architects from Thailand

we've just showed up at the gate and

they'd heard about the auction they'd

hope we have won and want to know what

they could get in we let them in and

it's been that way ever since people

coming from all over the world and all

over the county all over the state all

over the country to visit that original

nine acres this row of trees

it's almost overwhelming

what's the value of having this house

open to the public as a museum it's open

six days a week to people from all over

the world until you see this house you

don't understand what the best of

modernism is all about it's a complete

and total architectural philosophy

distilled into one beautiful little box

I think it's a great success it's a it's

a national treasure that's been saved

the preservation is believed very

strongly in keeping it in its original

setting we are most fortunate they were

able to do so the Farnsworth house is

now owned by the National Trust for

Historic Preservation and is operated

and managed by landmarks Illinois since

the auction it's been listed on the

National Register of Historic Places and

been designated a National Historic

Landmark I think of the house not only

as an important piece of architecture in

the history of architecture but as a

architectural poem it's exciting

exhilarating to be there and if you let

it into your emotions you can resonate

with it

that is what it does to me

I'm Geoffrey bear for more information

about the Farnsworth House go to WWE and

marx org

you