This paper delves into the architectural principles of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe concerning housing during the late 1920s, a period marked by Germany’s intense focus on social welfare housing construction following World War I. While many German modern architects advocated for “minimum housing” as a solution to housing shortages, Mies took a dissenting stance. Drawing influence from the sociologist Helmuth Plessner and architect Siegfried Ebeling, among others, Mies argued that artistic value should occupy the highest position in the hierarchy of architectural values. He emphasized that housing’s primary purpose should nurture and facilitate the inner development of its occupants.
By scrutinizing the evolution and application of the “minimum housing” concept, this paper uncovers the intricate interplay between economic efficiency and cultural significance embedded within its framework. Through a comprehensive analysis of Mies’s writings and intellectual influences, it elucidates Mies’s distinctive perspective on modern domestic spaces and contributes to a more nuanced understanding of his architectural theory. Furthermore, it highlights the tensions inherent in modernist architecture, which oscillates between serving as a tool for social intervention and a vehicle for cultural enrichment.