015 – Glass House: A Warped Mirror

Journey With Purpose

We explore the life and legacy of Philip Johnson through his iconic Glass House. Delving into Johnson’s multifaceted career, we reflect on Johnson’s profound impact on modern architecture, his controversial political past, and how these facets interplay with his architectural legacy. This episode navigates the complexities of his contributions within the context of his support of fascists, anti-semites, and the Nazi Party. Highlighting the Glass House’s design and significance, we reflect on how to view Johnson’s work in the context of his personal history, emphasizing the importance of learning from the past to inform our understanding of architecture and history.

• LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE:
• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify

Farnsworth House vs Glass House Show notes & links

• Visit the Glass House in person or on instagram & Twitter, owned and operated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation
• More photos from my trip to the Glass House…in 2007
• Wikipedia, deep dives:
  • Philip Johnson
  • Huey Long
  • Father Coughlin and the Christian Front
  • Social Justice
• Companion pod: Farnsworth House, Telling the whole story
• The Man in the Glass House: Philip Johnson, Architect of the Modern Century by Mark Lamster (who has a great instagram)
• Philip Johnson’s FBI File – all 150-odd pages (pdf)
• Modern architecture: international exhibition, New York, Feb. 10 to March 23, 1932, Museum of Modern Art – catalog (pdf)
• A New Biography of the Architect Philip Johnson, the ‘Man in the Glass House’ by the New York Times (gift link)
• Contextualizing Johnson’s life: Gay Gatherings: Philip Johnson, David Whitney and the Modern Arts, Glass House show, Gay Gatherings motion graphics by Shrenik Ganatra,
• Philip Johnson’s Not Glass Houses by Alexandra Lange
• Just how much of a Nazi was Philip Johnson?
• Using Johnson’s history to defend against contemporary fascism: Inaugural Marder-Vaughn Center Grantees Inspire Next Generation Through Civics Education
• Johnson Study Group
• Nora Wendl, Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of New Mexico.
  • Edith An Architectural History (pdf)
  • Edith Farnsworth Reconsidered
  • A Swarthmore College exhibition personifies the concealed life of Edith Farnsworth

Guest Bio

Gwen North Reiss is an educator, poet and writer located in New Canaan, Connecticut.

Johnson Study Group is a pseudonymous group of researchers and educators.

Nora Wendl is an associate professor of architecture at University of New Mexico and executive editor of the Journal of Architectural Education. Wendl’s work engages architectural historiography through methods involving image, text, narrative, performance, and exhibition. Her research has been supported by the Graham Foundation, Santa Fe Art Institute, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, among other institutions. Wendl has published, lectured, and exhibited widely. Her book manuscript, “The Edith Project,” was recently shortlisted for the 2022 Graywolf Press Nonfiction Prize.

Glass & Brick House, Philip Johnson Glass House, Philip Johnson Episode Summary

1. Philip Johnson’s Glass House stands as a testament to his pioneering spirit in minimalist architecture, challenging traditional concepts of space, structure, and environment.
2. Johnson’s privileged background and education provided him with unique opportunities to influence and shape the architectural landscape through both his wealth and connections.
3. His tenure at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) was transformative, not just for his career but also for the museum’s architectural exhibitions, significantly impacting the direction of modern architecture.
4. Constructed in 1949, the Glass House epitomizes the ideals of modernist architecture with its simplicity, transparency, and integration with nature, serving as a living manifesto of Johnson’s architectural beliefs.
5. Johnson’s engagement with fascist politics during the 1930s and 1940s has been a subject of much debate, complicating assessments of his legacy within the broader context of architectural history.
6. Despite the shadows cast by his earlier political affiliations, Johnson’s career witnessed a remarkable resurgence, affirming his status as a central figure in 20th-century architecture.
7. This episode delves into the nuanced process of reconciling Johnson’s architectural achievements with his contentious political history, offering listeners a multifaceted understanding of his impact on the field.
8. Highlighting the importance of acknowledging and learning from the complexities of historical figures like Johnson, the narrative encourages a critical examination of how we memorialize and evaluate the contributions of influential architects.
9. The Glass House, both a literal and figurative reflection of Johnson’s life, encapsulates the duality of transparency and introspection, mirroring the architect’s personal and professional evolution.
10. Through a detailed exploration of Johnson’s life, works, and the enduring significance of the Glass House, the episode underscores the critical need to engage with the architectural past in a manner that is informed, nuanced, and reflective.

Listen to companion episode

Farnsworth House, Telling the whole story

If you haven’t listened to the first part – Farnsworth House, Telling the whole story – that’s ok.

This episode unravels the complex story behind the creation of this architectural masterpiece, from Mies’s dramatic departure from Nazi Germany, leaving behind his family, to the protracted design and construction process that eventually led to a notorious lawsuit and rumors of a romantic entanglement with Dr. Farnsworth—rumors that bear no resemblance to the truth.

Join us as we speak with Scott Mehaffey, the Executive Director at the Dr. Edith Farnsworth House National Historic Site, and Nora Wendl, an Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of New Mexico, for an in-depth discussion on the house that not only stands as a testament to Mies van der Rohe’s architectural genius but also inspired Philip Johnson’s Glass House, the subject of our next episode. Get ready for a compelling journey into the past, marked by innovation, scandal, and the timeless allure of midcentury modern design.

Farnsworth House vs Glass House

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Aerial footage of the Glass House from The Glass House on Vimeo.

Aerial footage of the Glass House, built between 1949 and 1995 by architect Philip Johnson. The Glass House is a National Trust Historic Site located in New Canaan, Connecticut. The pastoral 49-acre landscape comprises fourteen structures, including the Glass House (1949), and features a permanent collection of 20th-century painting and sculpture, along with temporary exhibitions.
Aerial footage by Derrick Belcham.

Brick House Details Glass House, Philip Johnson

“Here’s the thing, what’s good about discussing the truth about these historic sites and the people who built them or owned them is, fascism is on the horizon again. it’s there. And so it’s very valuable to look at these things and see where things went wrong.”
– Gwen North Reese, Glass House Educator

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