Napa, CA
5,000 sqft Main Residence (in construction)

Created from archive drawings and models of the great Mies van der Rohe’s early 1950s project, ‘50x50’.  We adapted the design to meet today's stringent energy and building codes while adhering to Mies’ standards as verified by his grandson, Dirk Lohan.

Mies van der Rohe conceptualized a one-fits-all prefabricated solution to custom home design. The open floor plan of this glass house could be customized from 40x40, 50x50 or 60x60, to fit the site and resident as desired. Our client wanted to be the first patron of the 50x50 design, keeping the floor plan nearly identical to Mies’ original concept drawings and models.

The great architect’s passion for residential minimalism, prefabrication, and affordability took shape during his time working on the Farnsworth House. So while several specific details were never designed for the 50x50 concept, many of the details in this project were inspired by the Farnsworth House.

Since the building was only calculated in theory, we had to overcome various design challenges to retain the intended aesthetic and affordability.  Various fundamental alterations were necessary to fit the site and meet modern code requirements.
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Today, the project is nearing completion thanks to our team’s determination and commitment to bring Mies’ vision into reality.