Brick House Restoration
January 2010 marks the landmark commencement of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Brick House Restoration located on the Philip Johnson Glass House site. The Brick House was designed as both a companion piece and counterpoint in the original Glass House composition completed in 1949. The scope of work will include exterior and interior restoration of the building, conservation of the interior finishes and collections, and mechanical upgrades and improvements. The scope of work also includes site drainage improvements appropriate to the landscape of the site.
Today the National Trust’s mission for the 47-acre site is to become a center point and catalyst for the preservation of modern architecture, art and landscape design. The Brick House restoration will be the first fully comprehensive Modernist preservation project on the site under National Trust stewardship and will serve as a model of the preservation of Modernist heritage in the future.
Historic Background
The Brick House (aka the Guest House) was designed in conjunction with the Glass House during 1945-1948 and completed in 1949. The two buildings, situated in a bi-axial plan with landscaped courtyard, were conceived as one design, the solidity of the Brick House serving as a counterpoint to the transparency of the Glass House.
The Brick House’s Flemish bond façade is only interrupted with a full-height door at the west façade and three oversize round windows on the east façade at rear. The round windows were chosen to be the least disruptive design to the continuity of the brick plane. Both buildings are 56’ feet long with the Brick House only being be half as deep. The Brick House contains all the mechanical support systems below grade that serve both buildings by means of a tunnel under the central court. It has a flat roof with three skylights over the central hall.The interior originally contained three guestrooms and bath. It was remodeled in 1953 to create one large master bedroom and a study. In the master bedroom a series of vaults were installed at the ceiling and the walls were covered in Fortuny silk. The bathroom was remodeled in the 1980s and finished with rich, veined grey marble cladding and brass fixtures.
The Brick House has been closed to the public since 2008. The building has suffered from high levels of moisture due to poor site drainage, inadequate foundation waterproofing, breaches in the main roof and flashing as well as a lack of any interior mechanical ventilation system. While the exterior masonry envelope is in good condition, the wooden windows and main door have suffered from high levels of moisture and deferred maintenance. High levels of moisture have resulted in mold affecting the interior finishes and collections, including the Fortuny silk wall coverings, textiles, furniture, artwork and books. Schedule of Project and Team
In the fall of 2009, competitive proposals were solicited from project teams interested in providing architectural, engineering and conservation services. Ultimately, 23 interdisciplinary teams, representing the country’s leading preservation firms, submitted proposals. After a challenging selection process, a team led by Li/Saltzman Architects of New York City was hired in December 2009. Work began this month on research, non-destructive testing and site survey in preparation for design development. Construction documents will be prepared in the spring 2010 and construction is expected to begin on-site August 2010. Restoration work will be completed in February 2011 in time for reopening in April 2011.
Brick House Restoration Project Team
Barbara Campagna, FAIA, LEED AP, NTHP Graham Gund Architect • Mary Kay Judy, Project Manager • Li/Saltzman Architects • Thornton Tomasetti, Inc., Site/Civil and Structural Engineering • Altieri Sebor Wieber LLC, Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing Engineers • J. Baldwin Conservation LLC, Book and Paper Conservation • LCA Associates, Carpet Conservation • Period Furniture Conservation, LLC, Furniture Conservation • Spicer Art Conservation LLC, Textile Conservation • Catherine Matsen Consulting, Laboratory Testing Consultants • Slocum Consulting, Cost Estimating • Boston Lead Company, LLC, Hazardous Materials Consultants • GB Geotechnics USA Inc., Non-Destructive Testing Consultants • Precon Logstrat, LLC, Probe Consultant • Matthew Nielsen Landscape Architects • Bruce Spiewak, Code Consultant. Glass House Team
Christy MacLear, Greg Sages, Irene Allen, Brendan TobinPhoto Credits
From top to bottom1. The Brick House. Photo: Julius Shulman and Juergen Nogai 2. Exterior wall restoration detail 3. Brick House Bedroom. Photo: Carol Highsmith 4. Brick House exterior wall. Photo: Steve Brosnahan 5. Brick House Door. Photo: Jake diPietro 6. Photo published in Library of Contemporary Architects: Philip Johnson, text by Charles Noble. Photo: Yukio Fatagawa, Simon and Schuster, New York, 1972 7. Site surveying and roof conditions. Photo: The Philip Johnson Glass House 8. Preliminary furniture survey by Period Furniture Conservation, LLC. Photo: Mary Kay Judy