Right To Attack Mies Masterpiece Auctioned on EBay

Ebay auction of right to smash windows of a building designed by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe raises small sum towards refurbishment of this iconic example of Modernist architecture.

1 minute read

April 24, 2005, 9:00 AM PDT

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


A winning bid of $2705 was placed on eBay for the opportunity to shatter the first pane of glass removed from S. R. Crown Hall as part of the 17 May 2005 "Smash Bash," the kick off for the historic renovation of the Ludwig Mies van der Rohe-designed National Historic Landmark at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT). The renovation coincides with the 50th anniversary celebration of this Modernist architectural icon. Granted National Landmark status in 2001, Crown Hall is an icon of the Modernist style in its classical post-war phase. S. R. Crown Hall was completed in 1956 as the centerpiece of Mies’ campus master plan and houses IIT’s College of Architecture.The renovation of S.R. Crown Hall will begin with shattering the entire glass façade in an unedifying act of cheap publicity-seeking.Something about this disgusting spectacle seems to sum up the trashy wasteful throw-away attitudes of Modernism. Though I'm no modernist, I can't take any delight in the thought of hundreds of square metres of plate glass being destroyed for the edification of a few idiots. Even our opponents deserve more respect than this.

Thanks to Dr Matthew Hardy

Saturday, April 23, 2005 in INTBAU

courses user

As someone new to the planning field, Planetizen has been the perfect host guiding me into planning and our complex modern challenges. Corey D, Transportation Planner

As someone new to the planning field, Planetizen has been the perfect host guiding me into planning and our complex modern challenges.

Corey D, Transportation Planner

Ready to give your planning career a boost?

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

Seattle Legalizes Co-Living

A new state law requires all Washington cities to allow co-living facilities in areas zoned for multifamily housing.

December 1, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Times Square in New York City empty during the Covid-19 pandemic.

NYC Officials Announce Broadway Pedestrianization Project

Two blocks of the marquee street will become mostly car-free public spaces.

December 1, 2024 - StreetsBlog NYC

Broken, uneven sidewalk being damaged by large tree roots in Los Angeles, California.

The City of Broken Sidewalks

Can Los Angeles fix 4,000 miles of broken sidewalks before the city hosts the 2028 Olympic Games?

December 5, 2024 - Donald Shoup

Red bus parked at transit station in Denver, Colorado with CO state capitol dome in background.

Denver Transit Board Approves $1.2 Billion Budget

The 2025 budget for the Regional Transportation District is the largest in the agency’s 55-year history.

45 minutes ago - The Denver Post

Public stairs in Los Angeles, California painted with rainbow and red hearts.

A Framework for Inclusive Tree Planting in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Urban Forest Equity Collective has developed an equity-centered tree-planting framework and toolkit to address historic underinvestment and mitigate extreme heat in vulnerable neighborhoods.

1 hour ago - UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation

Close-up of front corner of grey Rivian truck with charger plugged in.

Rivian Joins Movement Toward Universal EV Charging

As more automakers like Tesla, Ford, and Rivian make their charging infrastructure compatible, the shift could lead to the faster development of a nationwide EV charging network.

2 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive