By Joanna Kutler
Located in New Canaan, Connecticut, the Philip Johnson Glass House is a fascinating place to visit, blending amazing architecture and art in a stunning carefully-curated landscape. Completed in 1949, the Glass House is best understood as a pavilion for viewing the surrounding woods and grounds. Floor-to-ceiling windows and doors offer an unobstructed view of the carefully composed landscape, making the house feel incredibly large and roomy when inside, despite looking rather small from the outside.
Philip Johnson lived in the Glass House from 1949 until his death in 2005. The house is decorated just as it was when Johnson lived there, including the original Mies van der Rohe chairs and sofa, and artwork by Nicolas Poussin and Elie Nadelman. The Glass House sits on 47 acres, with a total of 14 buildings carefully placed throughout the property and an amazing art collection.
There are several different tour options available (click HERE for a complete listing of tours). We opted for the Site Tour ($30 per person) which offers a 90 minute guided tour of the iconic Glass House by walking through Philip Johnson's 47 acre grounds. This tour also includes viewing the other architectural structures on the property, the art collection and exploring the interior of the Glass House, the Painting Gallery and the Sculpture Gallery.
During our tour, we learned so much about the design of the various buildings, the emphasis on placement within the landscape and Philip Johnson himself. It was fascinating and well-worth a visit. Several new tours are being offered this season, including 2-hour focus tours that delve into the specifics of the architecture, artwork or carefully-designed landscape. These tours are $45. Click HERE for more details.
Older children (ages 10 and up) are best suited for a visit to the Philip Johnson Glass House. The Glass House is open May 1-November 30th. The tour begins at the Visitors Center, located at 199 Elm Street, New Canaan, CT 06840. From the Visitors Center, a tour guide will escort you on a shuttle bus to the nearby grounds. For more information go to www.philipjohnsonglasshouse.org or call (203) 594-9884.