Dirk Lohan

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Dirk Lohan (born 1938, Rathenow, Germany) is an American architect and principal partner at Lohan Architecture. [1]

Contents

His own works include McDonald's former Corporate Headquarters campus [2] in Oak Brook, the John G. Shedd Oceanarium and the Soldier Field stadium expansion and renovation. [3]

He is known as the continuator of the work of his grandfather, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, [4] and an expert on its conservation. [5] He is also one of the main characters of the comic Mies by Agustín Ferrer Casas, where he accompanies his grandfather on a trip to Europe and Mies van der Rohe speaks with him about his life and work during the flight. [6]

Biography

Lohan was born in Germany, but moved to Chicago to attend the Illinois Institute of Technology, where he studied under his grandfather, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. [7] Lohan's childhood home in post war Germany was filled with photographs of his grandfather's buildings, and Lohan developed an early fascination with architecture. [8] As a teenager, he made a personal connection to Mies' work, particularly the 860–880 Lake Shore Drive Apartments in Chicago. [9] He studied architecture with his grandfather and joined the Mies office in 1962, working on projects like the New National Gallery in West Berlin [10] and the Chicago IBM office building. [11] After Mies' death in 1969, Lohan continued the firm with several partners, and removed Mies' name from the firm within five years, as stipulated by his estate. While early in his career, he worked on various projects, including the design of the McDonald's headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois. [12]

He played a role in the design and renovation of Soldier Field in Chicago, [13] the Adler Planetarium, and the Shedd Aquarium. [14] He also was a founding member of the Chicago School of Architecture Foundation, created to purchase and save the Glessner House, designed by H.H. Richardson. [15]

Style

Lohan's architectural style is influenced by his grandfather's work but is distinct in its approach. [16] While Mies van der Rohe was known for his minimalist, rigid designs, Lohan incorporates a greater focus on human comfort and warmth. [17] He often uses warmer materials compared to the cooler, more austere elements favored by Mies. [18]

References

  1. ↑ "Lohan Architecture". Lohan Architecture llc. Lohan Architecture. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Mcdonalds Corporate HQ". Lohan Architecture. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  3. ↑ Questions for an architect: Dirk Lohan on Architecture.org
  4. ↑ Zeitung, Aachener (January 20, 2017). "Aachen: Van der Rohe-Enkel Dirk Lohan: "In Chicago hat man großes Interesse"". Aachener Zeitung (in German). Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Esprit Design: Vila Tugendhat i letošní Designblok | Design". Lidovky.cz (in Czech). September 30, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  6. ↑ Ferrer Casas, Agustín (2019). Mies. Valencia: Grafito Editorial. ISBN   978-84-947670-5-0. OCLC   1098225297.
  7. ↑ "US Modernist Radio - Architecture You Love: #88/My Grandfather, Mies: Dirk Lohan". usmodernist.libsyn.com. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Mediating Mies: Dirk Lohan's Langham Hotel Lobby at the IBM Building". ArchDaily. February 21, 2015. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  9. ↑ Knoll (January 25, 2021). "Living With: Dirk Lohan". Knoll. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  10. ↑ Tribune, Chicago (August 30, 1987). "ARCHITECT DIRK LOHAN LEAVING HIS MARK ON CHICAGO". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Gallery of Mediating Mies: Dirk Lohan's Langham Hotel Lobby at the IBM Building - 2". ArchDaily. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  12. ↑ "McDonald's HQ architect: Oak Brook campus is worth saving". Crain's Chicago Business. January 23, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  13. ↑ Taylor, Ryan; Shapiro • •, Alex (May 1, 2024). "Architect redesigns Soldier Field amid financial skepticism in Bears' stadium plan". NBC Chicago. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Soldier Field Renovator, Architect Dirk Lohan, Takes Another Shot at Saving the Century-Old Stadium — and Chicago and Its Bears a Lot of Money". Athletic Business. May 28, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  15. ↑ "The Collection". Glessner House. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  16. ↑ Lohan, Dirk (1993). Dirk Lohan, buildings and projects of Lohan Associates, 1978-1993 /. E. Wasmuth. ISBN   978-3-8030-2809-9.
  17. ↑ Newspaper, Architect's (April 28, 2014). "Dirk Lohan". The Architect’s Newspaper. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  18. ↑ "A Windy City Welcome: Rethinking Hospitality Design in Chicago". ArchDaily. April 6, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
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