Philip Johnson's Glass House

On Friday, attendees of this year's Souvenir Building Collectors Society's convention will tour Philip Johnson's Glass House. Built in 1949 in New Canaan, Connecticut, the home was designed by the architect as his own residence and is a masterpiece in the use of glass. The building is an essay in minimal structure, geometry, proportion, and the effects of transparency and reflection. The estate includes other buildings designed by Johnson that span his career. Watch the iconic structure come alive in this video of still images. The building was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1997. It was the place of Philip Johnson's passing on January 25, 2005 at the age of 98. After Johnson's death, ownership of the Glass House passed to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which opened it to visitors in April 2007. Howie let me know that The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Philip Johnson's First House, known as the Booth House, is for Sale. For the first time in 55 years, Philip Johnson's first commissioned residential home is up for sale. The famed modern architect, known for his inventive use of glass, designed and built this Bedford, N.Y., property in 1946. The current owners purchased it in 1955 for $23,500 and its now listed for $2 million. Built in 1949, the two-story home with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the surrounding woodlands was a precursor to Mr. Johnson's iconic Glass House in New Canaan, Conn. This house would make a great backdrop for a souvenir building collector's collection if someone wants to purchase it while in Connecticut. InFocus Tech also announced they will produce a replica of the Glass House. I will be attending the SBCS convention and will file reports during the events, so stay tuned.