The 1,728-square-foot (160-square-meter) Glass House is noted by architecture historians as one of the first examples of a home fully integrated into the surrounding landscape. The Glass House's greenest feature, from a design standpoint, is its startling transparency: Thanks to four walls of glass, each supported by spare black pillars and framing a glass door, it appears to vanish from view at certain angles [source: The Glass House].
Johnson designed the house in 1947 as part of a "composition" of structures -- it's just one of 14 structures Johnson designed for the 47-acre (19-hectare) site. Most notable among these is Johnson's Brick House, built as a complement to the Glass House. Both structures feature Johnson's signature clean lines and spacious glass walls and windows, which blur the lines between where the interior ends and nature begins [source: Daily Icon].
The Glass House site is a prime example of how environmentally sensitive building doesn't just stop at the solar panels, geothermal systems or high-efficiency windows. Homes that are designed to blend into their natural environments break down the wall between indoors and outdoors, making the home's residents more aware of nature. A home designed in this manner can give its inhabitants a closer connection with the seasons, a better appreciation for natural beauty and a greater awareness of the valuable role nature plays in turning a house into a home.
Start the Countdown |
10: Ardestie Earth House: Scotland |
9: Peralta Adobe: San Jose, CA, USA |
8: Underground Homes: Coober Pedy, Australia |
7: Earthships: Taos, NM, USA |
6: The Philip Johnson Glass House: New Canaan, CT, USA |
5: Fallingwater: Mill Run, PA, USA |
4: Monticello: Charlottesville, VA, USA |
3: Kasubi Tombs: Kampala City, Uganda |
2: America's Oldest Net-zero House: Ann Arbor, MI, USA |
1: Cliff Dwellings: Mesa Verde National Park, CO, USA |
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