The Glass House will continue to launch programs and projects to capture the site’s legacy as a place for innovation and new ideas. We aim to share a selection of these programs with you online and through media partners:
GLASS HOUSE CONVERSATIONS
The Glass House has been described as "the longest running salon in America," as great minds in architecture, art and design gathered in New Canaan, CT at the invitation of Philip Johnson and David Whitney. These conversations are legendary as we recognize their enormous influence on our culture in the second half of the 20th century. Glass House Conversations, a series of twelve invitational dialogues in 2008 and 2009 brought together thought leaders from across society for conversations that explore important issues and new ideas. Oldcastle Glass is the exclusive sponsor of this program.
NEW CANAAN MODERN HOME SURVEY The New Canaan Modern Home Survey is a comprehensive survey of 90+ architect-designed mid-20th century Modern homes in New Canaan, Conn. This project is the fundamental first step towards scholarly evaluation of Modernist resources with research, fieldwork and photography. The survey will be promoted as a model for use by other states and communities with dense concentrations of modern resources. The Survey is supported by the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation and the New Canaan Historical Society.
GLASS HOUSE COMMISSIONS Glass House Commissions is a line of limited edition objects produced exclusively for and available in the Glass House Shop. Visits to the site inspire designers to create objects that become limited editions exclusive to the Glass House Shop. Each year will launch a new selection of artists and designers. Designers include: Jessica Kagan Cushman, Frances Palmer, Josh Jakus, Jens Risom, Denyse Schmidt, Jackie Shapiro for French Bull, and Julius Shulman.
GLASS HOUSE MOLESKINE® SKETCHBOOK
In partnership with Moleskine®, the Glass House created a custom sketchbook featuring 29 sketches by architects, designers, and artists inspired by the site, with relevant quotes by Philip Johnson, and many blank pages for notes or sketching.
ON-SITE PRESERVATION PROJECTS Each year the Glass House embarks on projects to preserve and protect the structures, artwork, and landscape at the Philip Johnson Glass House. Past projects include the conservation of artwork in the collection by Nicolas Poussin and Frank Stella, the replacement of the Glass House roof, and the installation of pathwork to adhere to ADA standards. This year the Philip Johnson Glass House will focus on the preservation of the Brick House.
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
The Philip Johnson Glass House Oral History Project records the memories and reflections of some the worlds most important architects, artists and scholars about one of the 20th Century's most influential architects and design legacies -- Philip Johnson, the Glass House and Modernism & Leadership more broadly. The Glass House offers a unique context for eliciting memories from people who were Philip Johnson's friends, students, associates and collaborators. These memories constitute an important aspect of the Glass House "collections" and offer a rich resource for understanding art, architecture and design during the 20th Century.