"This illuminating text examines Mie's career and his design theories, with an incisive synopsis of his guiding principles. The author explores the deep motvations behind Mie's theories - for example, his search for 'absolute' form through technology - that altered the evolution of modern design. Representative quotations from Mie's own writings are included as well. The 220 illustrations encompass floor plans, sketches of furniture and interiors, photographs of the famous tubular steel chairs, and examples of notable exterior spaces, such as the Seagram Building plaza. Of special interest are the illustrations of relevant works by a number of Mie's predecessors and contemporaries, including Viollet-leDuc, Mackintosh, Wright, Breuer, Gropius, and Le Corbusier." -- from interior flap. Includes bibliography and index. Printed in black-and-white.