The Connecticut Johnson House, “The Glass House”
The Johnson house, also known as “The Glass House,” is a very sophisticated steel-framed glass house, that has attracted attention all over the world. For a box style house, it has a high degree of sophistication. The theme of the house is that of a game of chess caught in the moment of checkmate. The design is nearly completely open glass and has some of the largest windows in Connecticut, compared to other architecture during the same era, 1949.
Many have criticized the functionality of such a home, as not able to offer enough privacy as a true home should. The creator, Philip Johnson, said this “…Comfort is not a function of beauty… purpose is not necessary to make a building beautiful…sooner or later we will fit our buildings so that they can be used…where form comes from I don’t know, but it has nothing at all to do with the functional or sociological aspects of our architecture.” I am not sure what that means, but there you go.
The truth is, no one actually lives in it, and it attracts many art loving tourists each year. On the same grounds are many modern sculptures, as well as beautiful flower gardens. All visitors to the Glass House site are required to purchase a tour ticket. Tours are recommended for ages 10 and up. All tours cover a half mile of uneven terrain so please choose shoes suitable for diverse terrain. No food or drink is allowed on the site, with the exception of water.