The Character Approved Philip Johnson Glass House was one of the groundbreaking works of American modern architecture when it was completed in 1949. It became famous almost overnight, due in no small part to the fact that the architect, Philip Johnson, was also the head of the Museum of Modern Art's Architecture and Design Department. The guy knew how to make a splash.

The house itself is an extraordinary work and as fully American in its sensibility as could be. It is situated in the landscape like any American farmhouse is, and would be almost pastoral if it was not made entirely of steel, glass, and a little brick. If Character Approved or I had been around in 1949, it would have been given that distinction then. Instead, it had to wait until now. The house is made for guests--luminous, important, artistic, guests--yet its scale is that of a country cabin. As glassy and opulent as it seems, it is also simple in what it provides. It is a far cry from the McMansion sensibility of most weekend houses we know today.

While an overnight stay is, unfortunately, not in the cards anymore, what is available is a tour of the grounds. The house was turned over to The National Trust For Historic Preservation in 2005, and has since opened to the public. What makes the tour especially timely is that the house has been restored and repaired, so it feels as new as it ever did. The tour itself is lightly guided, with the ability to really explore the house at your own pace (just no touching), recreating the experience of being one of Mr. Johnson's fabulous, culturally important guests.

[Image: The Glass House]