GLASS HOUSE

GLASS HOUSE New Canaan, US - Philip Johnson (1949)

Following the traces of Mies Van Der Rohe’s Farnsworth House, Glass House is another example of extreme transparency in domestic architecture. Despite the similarities in scale and context, the story more behind tells a totally different story.

“A Gay Space”

In his interview in 1993, Johnson explicitly pointed out that exhibitionism is an interface of architecture and all kinds of sexual experiments. Being one of the taboos of its time, gayness was never openly acknowledged by the public.

Philip Johnson was gay. And the critics considered his architecture in Glass House stands for a manifesto of a gay space. The house was holiday house, of which Johnson and his gay friends went to visit in free times.

According to Eisenman, Philip Johnson was always transparent talking about his own house while he was just the contrary, while talking about himself and as a result his buildings always indicated what he cannot speak of. For Eisenman the house was a metaphor of an individual’s rebirth against facisim in post-war period. However what is ironical in Glass House is that its notion of transparency. The house is enveloped with only glass, representing the transparency as a concept while it is located in a natural forest far away from the city. Public taboos among the gay made gay men hide their private lives from the others.

INTERIOR VIEWS

Living Room and Fİre Place

Bedroom and Study Space

Philip Johnson (1906 - 2005)

World wide famous American architect born in Ohio, US. In his architectural career, he was a promoter of İnternational Style and postmodern architecture respectively. One of the important works beside his Glass House was his working with Miss Van Der Roher in the design of the Seagram Building in New York city. IN his career, Johnson was awarded many times, including the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal (1978) and Pritzker Architecture Prize (1979).

Alp Fahri ARDIÇ 2020 Spring

Being the most influencing foundation in the 20th century, the Bauhaus was encouraging the idea of doing by learning. In the academy, students were employing the new production techniques and trying to design new modernist furniture and house equipments with the new production techniques that they found while experimenting with the production process.

A total integrity with nature.

One can consider the house as part of the existing nature at first sight of which is the exact design approach of Wright. Le Corbusier’s free plan concept is noticeable in Frank Loyd’s design.

“Less is more”

Elevated from the ground and enveloped with a total glazing, Farnsworth House creates a 360 degree vista to its surrounding nature. Its steel structure and structural details are clearly visible from outside. Architectural elements are sharply separated in two groups of horizontal and vertical while the horizontal is emphasized with its proportions.

“The house is a machine for living”

In the middle of bare nature, we observe a silent whiteness. There it is! Villa Savoye.

“A feminist Building”

It is well known that Gerrit Rietveld is the architect of the house, however, What is not well known is the influence of a strong female: Mrs Schröder, the owner of the house who raised her children alone while divorced. She was the one to tell the architect what to design since she knew exactly how and where she wanted to live and raise her children.

Philip Johnson was gay. And the critics considered his architecture in Glass House stands for a manifesto of a gay space. The house was holiday house, of which Johnson and his gay friends went to visit in free times.