We are just wrapping our third sold-out season since opening in 2007. However, being sold out is not our greatest achievement. We are most proud that the mission statement we have set forth - designed to re-cast the historic house museum - has been the directional force for benchmark programs, new modern preservation terminology and tools and digital scholarship which has become a resource to architects, designers and students around the world. The Glass House has become the Center for Modernism for the National Trust for Historic Preservation and through vibrant programming, has cultivated talent and new ideas for leaders nationally and internationally.
In 2009, we launched 7 new films - 2 professional works and 5 by students. The cornerstone films are featured on our home page and share a walk-thru the site with artist Frank Stella; the second features Foster, Graves, Gwathmey, Meier, Robertson, Rogers, Scully, and Stern on leadership in architecture.
This year we also wrapped up Conversations – convening 10 leaders from different disciplines to discuss and capture ideas in design, preservation and leadership. Next year we will extend these to an on-line forum to expand these conversations to the public.
We also recently finished the Modern Home Survey of nearly 100 modern homes in New Canaan. This historic narrative is a model in its depth, new glossary for modern preservation and tool for other communities to use around the U.S. We launched this database on-line to create greater awareness and bring the concept of surveys into the mainstream of digital resources providing a proactive forum for preservation.
We will move into FY10 with a focus on extending our successful programs and adding a joint effort with our partner site - the Farnsworth House - also owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This will ensure that our network of friends and donors are even more closely connected.
Thank you for your visits, your support and your participation. .
Christy MacLear
Executive Director, the Philip Johnson Glass House
The National Trust for Historic Preservation
