The Glass House or Johnson house, built in 1949

1949 in architecture

The year 1949 in architecture involved some significant events.-Buildings:* Ford House in Illinois designed by Bruce Goff.* Glass House in New Canaan, Connecticut designed by Philip Johnson....

 in New Canaan, Connecticut

New Canaan, Connecticut

New Canaan is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, northeast of Stamford, on the Fivemile River. The population was 19,738 according to the 2010 census.The town is one of the most affluent communities in the United States...

, was designed by Philip Johnson

Philip Johnson

Philip Cortelyou Johnson was an influential American architect.In 1930, he founded the Department of Architecture and Design at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, and later , as a trustee, he was awarded an American Institute of Architects Gold Medal and the first Pritzker Architecture...

 as his own residence and is a masterpiece in the use of glass. It was an important and influential project for Johnson and for modern architecture

Modern architecture

Modern architecture is generally characterized by simplification of form and creation of ornament from the structure and theme of the building. It is a term applied to an overarching movement, with its exact definition and scope varying widely...

. The building is an essay in minimal structure, geometry, proportion, and the effects of transparency and reflection. The estate includes other buildings designed by Johnson that span his career.

The house is an example of one of the earliest uses of industrial materials like glass and steel in home design.