If you’re interested in seeing one of America’s most iconic works of modern architecture, we suggest a day trip to New Canaan, Connecticut. There you will find Philip Johnson’s Glass House – a National Trust Historic Site with a mission to preserve and interpret modern architecture, landscape, and art, as well as to honor the legacy of Philip Johnson (1906-2005) and and his partner, David Whitney (1939-2005).
In this 47-acre campus you can tour fourteen architectural structures, including the architect’s personal residence – the 1,700 sq. ft. Glass House and world-class private art and design collections, walk the grounds to explore the English and French curated landscape, and visit inside Philip Johnson’s on-site architectural work-space and library study.
The glass house seems to be a simple box with four glass walls, however it took the renowned architect more than three years to design and build, completing it in 1949.
This beautiful architectural piece of art depicts two buildings, facing each other across about 30 yards of grassy terrace. One is the freestanding transparent glass house. The other, is its mirror opposite, built into a hill, a box with solid brick walls, also known as the Brick House.
“This program celebrates how two icons of modern architecture, the Philip Johnson Glass House and the Mies Van der Rohe Farnsworth House, continue to inspire and cajole conversation and debate about architecture and design.”
Photo credits: Robin Hill and Eirik Johnson.
* More info at Philip Johnson’s Glass House
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