No understanding of the modern movement in architecture is possible without knowledge of its master builder, Mies van der Rohe. Together with documentation of his life, this film shows all his major buildings, as well as rare film footage of Mies explaining his philosophy. Phyllis Lambert relates her choice of Mies as the architect for the Seagram building. Mies's achievements and continuing influence are debated by architects Robert A.M. Stern, Robert Venturi, and Philip Johnson, by former students and by architectural historians. Mies is seen in rare documentary footage.
Mies van der Rohe
Archive Footage
Robert A.M. Stern
Self

Philip Johnson
Self
Franz Schulze
Narrator
Peter Blake
Self
George Danforth
Self
Arthur Drexler
Self
Peter Eisenman
Self
James Ingo Freed
Self
Myron Goldsmith
Self
Bruce Graham
Self
John Hejduk
Self

Viva El Vedado
Viva El Vedado

Brasilia, Contradictions of a New City
Brasilia, Contradictions of a New City

Coast Modern
Coast Modern

Bird's Nest - Herzog & de Meuron in China
Bird's Nest - Herzog & de Meuron in China

Le génie romain
Le génie romain

Housing a Dream
Housing a Dream

The Oyler House: Richard Neutra's Desert Retreat
The Oyler House: Richard Neutra's Desert Retreat

Unity Temple: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Modern Masterpiece
Unity Temple: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Modern Masterpiece

Bauhaus 100
Bauhaus 100
Das Geheimnis der Orte
Das Geheimnis der Orte

Googie
Googie

Valldaura: A Quarantine Cabin
Valldaura: A Quarantine Cabin