Elevations for Mies

Richard Serra has repeatedly expressed that context, experience, and weight are the starting points for his steel sculptures. He also named Mies van der Rohe as one of his role models for exploring the potentials of steel: “Since I made the decision to work with steel, it’s absolutely necessary for me to know who has used this material in the most representative, inventive, and efficient way.” (1985). However, since the steel structure of Haus Esters is located behind its brick facade, Serra instead carefully examined the visible architecture in order to access the context of the location. Finally, Serra positioned two steel blocks so that they incorporate the exact height of the building’s floor and terrace, thus projecting Haus Esters’ strict geometry out into the garden. This field of reference enriches our perception of the architectural forms, as well as the informal garden terrain.