Skip to content

Philip Johnson's Glass House Opens


The Philip Johnson Glass House will open to the public for the first timethis spring. This 47-acre site, with buildings designed in each decade of Philip Johnson’s life, represents a survey of architecture and art. The 1949 house is among the symbols of modernist architecture.

The basic concept for Johnson’s glass house was borrowed from Mies van der Rohe, who was designing the glass-and-steel Farnsworth House during the same period. Unlike the Farnsworth House, however, Johnson’s home is symmetrical and sits solidly on the ground. The interior space is divided by low walnut cabinets and a brick cylinder which contains the bathroom. The cylinder and the brick floors are a polished purple hue; the steel is dark gray. Included in the landscape are sculptures and a guest house.

Springtime is considered “the preview months” (April, May, and June) these previews will precede the Inaugural Gala Picnic to be held on Saturday June 23, 2007. The Gala Picnic will feature the Merce Cunningham Dance Company.

Of Note: Metropolis Magazine has a great article “Extending the Legacy” on the Glass House as well as a great slide show. Above image is by Paul Warchol for Metropolis

3 Comments

  1. My wife, incidentally, has a very helpful rundown of links + pertinent information for visiting the house–and many other noteworthy modernist homes open to the public in the U.S. and abroad, case anyone’s traveling.

  2. Alessandra Mariani

    Hello Matthew,

    I wanted to ask you if it would be possible to use your photograph (with credits to you obvioulsy) to announce one of my classes on the web (I am a lecturer at UQAM’s Design School) ?

    Thank you,

    alessandra

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *