THE GLASS HOUSE

The "glass house" is the work of the American architect Philip Johnson. This glass cube under the trees of a magnificent garden was his weekend home. The only enclosed space is the bathroom, hidden in a concrete cylinder in the centre of the room. Minimalist and functional, this house is a unique work of art, which explains why it is one of the most visited in the United States, after Frank Lloyd Wright's house in Phoenix. The furniture from the 50s is original. The site also includes a surprising gallery of contemporary paintings and sculptures set in the gardens. The house designed by Phillip Johnson is very similar to the Farnsworth House, built near Chicago by the eminent Mies Van der Rohe. It was built between 1945 and 1951, more or less at the same time as the Glass House. Although Mies Van der Rohe's house was completed two years later, it is widely believed that Johnson was inspired by the plans for the Farnsworth House, something he never denied.

The house is visited from the Visitor's Center, from where a shuttle bus will take you. As the glass house is in a very exclusive residential area, the residents do not want to see a flood of tourists. This also explains the high, rather prohibitive rates. Which is a pity, because the Glass House is well worth a visit. It is possible to take a guided tour of the house and its galleries, or to discover the place at your own pace.