Architects

22 Mies van der Rohe Trivia Questions on His Modernist & “Less Is More” Philosophy

Mies van der Rohe shaped modern cities with his steel-and-glass designs and his “less is more” philosophy. This quiz looks at the life, iconic structures, and lasting legacy of this pioneering modernist architect.

You will see questions about his famous minimalist residences, important commissions, and his leadership at the Bauhaus school. Some questions focus on his early life in Germany, while others highlight his career in America.

After completing this, you can read more about famous architects, learn about architectural styles, or explore famous buildings.

Mies van der Rohe is widely considered one of the pioneers of which architectural style?

Modernism

Modernism

Baroque

Baroque

Brutalism

Brutalism

Art Deco

Art Deco

Which famous aphorism is most frequently associated with the minimalist philosophy of Mies van der Rohe?

Form follows function

Form follows function

Less is a bore

Less is a bore

Less is more

Less is more

Ornament is crime

Ornament is crime

Mies van der Rohe served as the final director of which influential German art school before it was forced to close in 1933?

Bauhaus

Bauhaus

École des Beaux-Arts

École des Beaux-Arts

Ulm School of Design

Ulm School of Design

Vkhutemas

Vkhutemas

Which two materials became the defining signatures of Mies van der Rohe’s architectural aesthetic?

Iron and terracotta

Iron and terracotta

Concrete and stone

Concrete and stone

Steel and glass

Steel and glass

Wood and brick

Wood and brick

Which iconic structure was designed by Mies van der Rohe for the 1929 International Exposition in Spain?

Villa Tugendhat

Villa Tugendhat

Farnsworth House

Farnsworth House

Barcelona Pavilion

Barcelona Pavilion

Seagram Building

Seagram Building

Along with the pavilion, what piece of iconic furniture did Mies van der Rohe design specifically to provide seating for the Spanish royalty?

A bookshelf

A bookshelf

A lamp

A lamp

A dining table

A dining table

A chair

A chair

The Seagram Building, noted for its bronze exterior and plaza, is a landmark skyscraper located in which city?

New York City

New York City

Chicago

Chicago

Toronto

Toronto

London

London

Who was the primary client that commissioned the famous glass-walled residence located along the Fox River in Illinois?

Lilly Reich

Lilly Reich

Walter Gropius

Walter Gropius

Edith Farnsworth

Edith Farnsworth

Philip Johnson

Philip Johnson

Mies van der Rohe was a prominent figure in the architectural movement known as what, which sought to reform housing through industrial production?

Neues Bauen

Neues Bauen

Expressionism

Expressionism

Constructivism

Constructivism

De Stijl

De Stijl

Which notable designer and long-time collaborator worked closely with Mies van der Rohe on the interiors of the Barcelona Pavilion?

Dorothea Tanning

Dorothea Tanning

Lilly Reich

Lilly Reich

Anni Albers

Anni Albers

Gertrud Arndt

Gertrud Arndt

After immigrating to the United States, Mies van der Rohe spent many years as the director of the architecture program at which university?

Illinois Institute of Technology

Illinois Institute of Technology

Harvard Graduate School of Design

Harvard Graduate School of Design

Chicago School of Architecture

Chicago School of Architecture

Yale School of Architecture

Yale School of Architecture

In 1927, Mies van der Rohe curated an exhibition in Stuttgart that showcased the work of Europe’s leading modern architects. What was this exhibition called?

Villa Tugendhat

Villa Tugendhat

Weissenhof Estate houses

Weissenhof Estate houses

The 860–880 Lake Shore Drive Apartments

The 860–880 Lake Shore Drive Apartments

The Farnsworth House

The Farnsworth House

Villa Tugendhat, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its use of onyx and open floor plan, is located in which city?

Brno, Czech Republic

Brno, Czech Republic

Dessau, Germany

Dessau, Germany

Zurich, Switzerland

Zurich, Switzerland

Vienna, Austria

Vienna, Austria

To distinguish the Farnsworth House from the ground, what structural feature did Mies incorporate to elevate the steel-framed home?

A concrete block foundation

A concrete block foundation

A solid stone podium

A solid stone podium

Eight steel columns

Eight steel columns

A structural wooden frame

A structural wooden frame

In which decade was the construction of the iconic Seagram Building completed?

1930s

1930s

1960s

1960s

1950s

1950s

1940s

1940s

What architectural technique did Mies van der Rohe use on the Seagram Building to express the structure of the frame on the exterior?

Attaching non-structural bronze I-beams to the exterior facade

Attaching non-structural bronze I-beams to the exterior facade

Using decorative load-bearing stone arches

Using decorative load-bearing stone arches

Enclosing the entire exterior in thick reinforced concrete

Enclosing the entire exterior in thick reinforced concrete

Leaving the structural steel columns completely exposed on the outside

Leaving the structural steel columns completely exposed on the outside

Mies van der Rohe was born in which German city in 1886?

Berlin

Berlin

Aachen

Aachen

Frankfurt

Frankfurt

Munich

Munich

Which building designed by Mies on the Illinois Institute of Technology campus is celebrated for its column-free interior space?

The Bacardi Office Building

The Bacardi Office Building

Neue Nationalgalerie

Neue Nationalgalerie

Crown Hall

Crown Hall

The Glass House

The Glass House

In which city is Mies van der Rohe’s Neue Nationalgalerie, which opened in 1968, located?

New York

New York

Berlin

Berlin

Chicago

Chicago

Barcelona

Barcelona

Before establishing his own practice, Mies van der Rohe worked in the studio of which influential German architect and industrial designer?

Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright

Peter Behrens

Peter Behrens

Walter Gropius

Walter Gropius

Le Corbusier

Le Corbusier

What type of stone was used for the base (plinth) of the Barcelona Pavilion?

Limestone

Limestone

Travertine

Travertine

Sandstone

Sandstone

Granite

Granite

What was the original birth name of the architect known as Mies van der Rohe?

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Ludwig Michael Mies

Ludwig Michael Mies

Maria Ludwig Michael Mies

Maria Ludwig Michael Mies

Ludwig Mies Rohe

Ludwig Mies Rohe

You can do better

Not bad

Great!

If you liked this, try our trivia on art movements. We also have quizzes about skyscrapers and famous landmarks.

My passion for travel seamlessly integrates with my love for trivia, as I spend a lot of time on the road. I create engaging trivia quizzes based on the information I gather about new locations, food, music, customs, and people.

Related Posts

No Content Available