In a shocking return from the dead, visionary architect and Illinois Tech master plan designer Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was resuscitated and brought back to life a stunning 57 years later. The famed architect was brought back to life at the age of 140 years, marking a return of Miesian architecture to Chicago. He was seen breaking out of his relocated coffin in MTCC (see earlier article on his coffin relocation the day before his famed return) after an electrical shock was sent to the ground from an exposed wire in Potters Alley. Mies was seen walking through MTCC, asking students where he was and what building he was in. This TechNews reporter got to interview Mies and walked around campus with him on a return tour.
Mies, who was not alive during the construction of MTCC, Kaplan, Gunsaulus, and several other buildings, was heard saying, “What the (explicit) did you do to my campus?!” I informed Mies of architect Rem Koolhaas’ design of MTCC, to which he responded, “Where is this Rem Koolhaas so I can beat him with my own fist!?” I should note that Mies was extremely unhappy during this tour, being quite belligerent towards the newer buildings…and the Computer Science majors on campus. In fact, he was not very happy at all to be back on campus.
After leaving MTCC, I asked Mies what he thought about the campus landscape design, to which he responded, “Why are there so many trees not part of the plan? WHAT THE (explicit) IS THAT?!” That second question was his response to seeing Galvin Tower. He then criticized the lack of “straight standing” trees, explaining how the campus needs more straight lines with 90-degree corners. While making our way to the Tower, he looked across State Street to see Rowe Village. I informed him that his student and late architect Helmut Jahn designed it. Mies responded with, “I may not like curves, but his choice in materials is perfect. Steel and concrete should be the only things used in this situation.” He continued to say how Jahn was extremely promising during his youth.
Mies then looked over to the right, spotting Galvin Library, to which he had a massive temper tantrum, saying he was going to “…beat the ever living (explicit) out of whoever designed this (explicit) piece of (explicit) that failed to mimic my perfect Crown Hall.” I informed him that architect Walter Netsch was responsible for this design, to which he responded, “Of course it was that (Skidmore, Owings, and Merril) SOM (explicit).” He walked over to Galvin, criticizing the failed use of the beams, and mentioned how the steel was oxidizing fast, clearly designed by an inferior architect. Mies then started walking towards Crown again, refusing to enter the library, saying, “Books are for suckas.” I should note at this point that Mies walks extremely fast for someone who smoked cigars daily, so I was slowly running out of breath. Additionally, he had pulled out a cigar and lighter at some point during this walk, which was not helping my recovering bronchitis. I think he had them in his pockets.
Making our way into Crown, Mies was met with much fear (probably because he should be dead) and intrigue. He was happy to be back in his home. However, he did not show much appreciation for the glass rooms and offices that were constructed after his death. General Secretary of the College of Architecture (CoA), Reed Kroloff, met with him (in shock but nonetheless met) to discuss the new plans Mies had drawn up while on the white tables in Crown. Seeing as it was approaching the end of the studio day, a talk about sustainability was replaced with a talk to be held by Mies as a way of marking his return to the CoA.
After walking slowly around the studios in both Crown and 3410 (Tech Park North), he made his way to the tower, where he slowly but surely became manic and annoyed about the building, which he called, “…a testament to everything wrong with architecture.” After going up to the 19th floor to express his grievances to a horrified Supreme Leader Raj Echambadi and a confused Elizabeth Hudson, Mies came back down and away to the architectural model shop. At this point, I made two decisions on my tour. One was that I should not show him Kaplan or any other building out of fear. Two was that he somehow walked up and down the stairs faster than I traveled in the elevator, despite his age and smoking habits.
Mies finally settled down at a desk in Lower Crown after changing his mind about the shop. At this point, he had already spoken at his lecture with Reed and berated several students on their designs. I had decided to stay behind with him after his lecture to continue interviewing him because he genuinely…wouldn’t…stop…TALKING. At one point, he insisted on looking at my project portfolio, to which he simply said, “Your projects look like (explicit).” He then asked why we had a landscape program, claiming that landscape architects are the true dark ones in the design world. After offensively calling out more issues in my portfolio and berating the few remaining graduate students in my studio room, he continued telling me about how I need to adopt more steel and glass and that “…students can deal with the heat of the glass if they really care about architecture.” His rants continued late into the night.
After he had smoked another four cigars (I have no idea where he got these from) and drank his whiskey with coffee, he proceeded to attempt to use my phone. I had to teach Mies how to use my iPhone, and soon he was demanding that we go to the city and eat steak. Saying, “I know a place where we can get a good steak for $67. You buy, of course.” The place he knew closed in 1976. I explained how a steak no longer realistically costs this and that I am also a broke college student. He did not understand and proceeded to order an Uber Black to STK Steakhouse in River East. After making our way to STK and eating our extremely expensive steaks, we again rode our way to his former apartment in River North. After hopping out of the Uber, he was struck by a falling bird on the head after it ran into a nearby glass building. He fell to the ground, and after calling an ambulance, it was concluded that he was once again in a deep slumber. This nightmare of mine ended at approximately 3 a.m. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe passed away for a second time by a bird strike at 1:36 a.m. on April 2.
All in all, this was a very enlightening experience. Had he managed to miraculously stay alive longer than he did for a second time, I do believe Illinois Tech would’ve seen its second evolution of architecture. Maybe MSV would’ve finally been knocked down.