Philip Johnson

10 Houses Perfect for Exhibitionists

Long before college students started exposing themselves to celebrate sexual liberation and Will Ferrell made a name for himself streaking the silver screen, Herodotus was writing about exposure en masse to help spread the good word about a jubilant pilgrimage to The Festival of Bast, an annual event in ancient Egypt now famous for being home to the world’s largest orgy. In the words of the Father of History, “when in the course of their journey they reach a community — not the city of their destination, but somewhere else — they steer the bareis close to the bank. Some of the women carry on clapping and singing, but others dance or stand and pull up their clothes to expose themselves. Every riverside community receives this treatment.”

Because there’s nothing like starting a week off with a bawdy cultural phenomenon, we thought we’d apply the fun of mooning, flashing and streaking to architecture by posing the question: where would exhibitionists live? Beginning with the two glass houses that started it all, here’s our look at see-thru architecture that will have you frolicking naked in no time. From Philip Johnson’s iconic glass house to an Italian glass cube of a home complete with glass furniture to a glass barn, click through to check out our roundup of transparent homes that are sure to inspire a mooning or two. Let us know in the comments if you could live in such an exposed home! … Read More

The Inspiring Design of Architects’ Offices

Philip Johnson, the founder of MoMa’s Architecture and Design Department and the first person to be awarded the profession’s highest honor, the Pritzker Prize, believed that “all architecture is shelter, and all great architecture is the design of space that contains, cuddles, exalts or stimulates the persons in that space.” We thought we’d put the venerable Mr. Johnson’s wisdom to the test to see how the work spaces of the world’s most innovative profession measure up. After all, if the organic food movement’s mantra is “you are what you eat,” then it’s not a far stretch to think that — creatively — you are where you work.

The results are in, and we’re happy to report that the architect’s office is as imaginative and inspiring as they come. From a stunning modern studio nestled in a forest outside of Madrid to the happiest studio cum gallery cum design shop we’ve ever seen to three stories of stacked shipping containers designed to wander, click through to check out our roundup of the best of the best creative work spaces from around the world. Let us know in the comments what studios you’d nominate! … Read More

Psychedelic Lens on the Glass House

Taking an experimental, DIY approach to documenting architect Philip Johnson‘s iconic Glass House, photographer James Welling shot the sublime structures through makeshift color filters with a digital camera to compose an undeniably psychedelic series of pictures. Working over the course of three years, the California photographer traveled in various seasons to the now National Trust for Historic Preservation site, where he was repeatedly drawn to the Glass House for its transparency, reflectivity, and ability to carry color. … Read More