How did Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier represent the International Style?

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier were pivotal figures in the development of the International Style, an architectural movement that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s characterized by rectilinear forms, open interior spaces, and the elimination of applied ornamentation.1

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Mies van der Rohe epitomized the style through his commitment to structural honesty and the principle that "less is more". He is best known for his glass-and-steel skyscrapers, which utilized glass curtain walls spanning steel skeletons to create a sense of elegant simplicity. Key examples of his work include the Barcelona Pavilion and the Seagram Building, which helped establish the aesthetic rationale for corporate architecture in the mid-20th century.213

Le Corbusier

Le Corbusier provided a strong theoretical foundation for the movement through his book Towards a New Architecture, advocating for an architecture influenced by machine-age efficiency. His work often featured reinforced concrete, pilotis (supporting columns), and cantilevered floors to create flowing, plastic spaces. His Villa Savoye is a quintessential example of these principles, while his later projects, such as the Unité d'Habitation, incorporated modular proportions to maintain a human scale within large-scale residential environments.314