On The Market - New Canaan Architectural Gem For Sale

New England and Connecticut in particular is known for it's historic 17th and 18th century homes, and no one loves them more than I. But while prowling a real estate website this morning, in search of an antique sea captains house I saw advertised in the paper, I came across this gem. On the market for a mere $5,000,000 is the 1957 "Bridge House" by architect John Johansen in New Canaan, Connecticut. Johansen is well known as one of the "Harvard Five" - a group of architects who graduated from the Harvard School of Design during the World War II era. They were all highly influenced by their professor, Walter Gropius, who was the founder of the Bauhaus School of Design in Germany, eventually teaching at Harvard University after escaping the Nazi regime. I love the vistas, from one end of the house to the other, with the outside pouring in through the large windows. New Canaan is known for it's hillsides and the small rivers and streams that flow through the countryside. Despite being a former antique home owner, I now live in a contemporary house filled with glass and light. I miss the charming nooks and crannies of an old house but there's something to be said about standing at one point in your home and practically having a 360 degree view of the outdoors. So take a look and let me know what you think!

View from the living room of the "Bridge House"


Another famous New Canaan, Connecticut house (now museum):
"The Glass House" by "Harvard Five" architect Philip Johnson


Architect Philip Johnson outside his Glass House

Would definitely have to upgrade my underwear if I lived here!

Hmmmm...who's this country bumpkin? ;-)

19 comments:

Lydee said...

both are lovely and unique houses. Thanks for sharing them with us.

SandraRee said...

I love the Bridge House, I think I would be quite comfortable in a house like that. The Glass House not so much. :)

Andy Warhol lived in a glass house or maybe he was visiting?

Interesting post, Marie Louise!

Camille said...

Let the drooling begin...wow! The Bridge House is absolutely fantastic...thank you for sharing.

heidi said...

oh how i LOVE the glass house!

Robin said...

I think I like the Bridge House better - there are some walls for art and curtains for privacy and I like the funky eyebrow windows.

Unknown said...

Love the bridge house and the glass house too!

littlebyrd said...

I think these are very cool! I hadn't thoght about pgradng uderwer until you said something - that made me laugh!

RoyalTLady said...

Spectacular!!!!

But I would probably filled the glass walls with vertical blinds and draw them on days that I am scantily dressed...provided I have neighbors. Otherwise, if the bridge house stood alone in hectares of land, I do not mind the bare minimum.

Lovely. Thanks for sharing.

John Gascot said...

I couldn't do the glass house. No walls for artwork. :(

david mcmahon said...

Great properties. Thanks for the `virtual' tour.

And thank you too for the commen on my blog!

Do visit again.

Sabina said...

What amazing houses!! Thank you for sharing them.

kimberlee said...

flipping amazing, I know what I would do if I had 5 mil. and the glass house is pretty influential eh.

The House That A-M Built said...

Oh that bridge house is to die for! So serene! Good luck with your fitness goals too. It's so important to set aside time to look after ourselves in this oh so busy world. A-M xx

Fifi Flowers said...

WOW... these photos bring back memories of Architecture 101...lol!
Love the idea of the stream running under the house... hate the idea of cleaning all those windows!

Laura in Paris said...

Oh, how I wish I could buy it! Good pictures and very instructive too (I LOVE architecture)

Rascallion said...

Great post, this really is great architecture. Tho I don't think I could ever pull off the minimalist living ideal for more than a week myself.

Hill Country House Girl said...

LOVE the Bridge House and would like to think I could live there - but, where would I hang art and display collections? Some of us just have too much STUFF! ( I am the worst!)

I have a constant struggle with this - I love contemporary architecture, but also crave the patina and worn color of old houses and old things. Thanks for another great post.

StaroftheEast said...

As soon as I saw the Glass house it reminded me of the movie 'The Lake House' with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves, and I was right!

Thanks to Google:
THE LAKE HOUSE, a memorable edifice built on stilts and reached by a walkway over the water is reminiscent of Phillip Johnson's signature Glass House

The movie was awesome, if you didn't watch it, you should :)

hello gorgeous said...

I love these houses. Not really me at all but I'm from the Midwest and there's a lot of Frank Lloyd Wright - at one with nature and all. Something very comforting about it.

"It's never too late to be who you might have been." --George Eliot