The Glass House, Built in 1949, was designed by Philip Johnson as his own residence. The house is an example of early use of industrial materials such as glass and steel in home design. The house is mostly hidden from the street, and the views of the landscape are its “wallpaper” (“I have very expensive wallpaper,” Johnson once said””).
There are no curtains around the wall, no privacy, except the cylinder structure inside the house which is the bathroom. He made the house like this because he was homosexual and he wanted to show that he did not care about society because at that time it was unacceptable to be homosexual in the society.
What do you think about the house??
The house has a very simple design and structure that makes you comfortable to live in, it is the only house in the world where you can see the sunset and the moon rise at the same time while standing at the same place, that’s an impossibility in any other house in which you have to walk between rooms to see those effects. But the problem is, what about the privacy? Of course no one can stay one day in transparent house.
In addition, how could he live in this house even if he was homosexual? He obviously distorted the second Maslow’s hierarchy of needs which is safe, how did he feel safe in such a house? Because instinctively, every human being needs to be protected from outside which I think is missing in this house.
References:
- (n.d.). Retrieved October 31, 2015, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow’s_hierarchy_of_needs
- (n.d.). Retrieved October 31, 2015, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Johnson
- AD Classics: The Glass House / Philip Johnson. (2010, May 16). Retrieved October 31, 2015, from http://www.archdaily.com/60259/ad-classics-the-glass-house-philip-johnson
A Mind in A Space 
October 31, 2015 at 12:34 pm
As a Residence in the glass house why would I be comfortable while there is no feeling of privacy?!
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 31, 2015 at 2:10 pm
I meant by being comfortable living inside the nature, but in the same time we need a cover , and protection from outside..
LikeLike
October 31, 2015 at 9:03 pm
I believe that the human always needs a cover, being transparent with nature is frighten, living in the middle of the unknown is just one of the biggest humanity’s fears. This man really created something deserve to be read about.
LikeLike
November 5, 2015 at 6:34 pm
In my point of view , this house has very simple material and design but doesn’t consider privacy which very essential to human life . The house is not practical because there is a conflict between the homosexual and privacy.
LikeLiked by 1 person