The Glass House, National Trust for Historic Preservation — Attraction in New Canaan

The Glass House is an icon of modern architecture. A pilgrimage many architects will do at least once. Interestingly enough though I was the only one on that day’s tour. Certainly the $30 1-hr tour might be more than enough for the general public but it probably isn't enough to absorb it all it and a shame to miss the other buildings. Those who are interested gets bumped to 2 hr $45 and 2.5 hr $100 if you wanted a more extensive tour of the grounds. Therefore I recommend at least the 2 hr tour.

You are driven to the site from the Visitor Center which is right next to the train station so making the trip from NYC is quite easy. Everyone one is friendly and helpful. Our docent was really knowledgeable and had lots of information, historical facts to talk as she led us around. I did the 2.5 hr tour which gave some time to enjoy the buildings and photograph it but you are not allow to wander much from the prescribed path.

While I understand the need for preservation of the grounds the ability to see the structures as they are indented within in the landscape can frustrating but at the same time I’m sure the snobby rich neighbor don’t want people wandering around. You never get to see the lake. The Glass house is only one of the many buildings within the land and while it might be the most important, the rest of the buildings play in the architectural evolution of...

I am a designer and I really enjoyed the design of Philip Johnson. The landscape is designed well and some of the guides are really knowledgeable. I had a bad experience here because I went there alone on a rainy day and when I was trying to enter the brick house, the door was closely shut and when I knocked on the door, the guide inside told me to wait for 10 min and come back. So I toured around the other places and took me about 20 min to come back. The door was still closely shut. I waited patiently outside and 5 min later, a group of white people came out after a very long tour. Then, the guide told me reluctantly that I could go in but I was not allowed to go in any of those rooms without any explanation. I was really confused because I just saw 8 people coming out and had such a long and detailed tour and clearly they were inside of each room as they took their shoes off. So I took a quick peak at each room since I was not allowed to go in the room and the guide was kinda supervising me the whole time by staring at me, which made me really uncomfortable. I felt I was discriminated as an Asian or whatever reason and it totally ruined my mood of keep touring and I left earlier. Overall, I like the design and the site but the experience that I had here was not great and comfortable. I would not consider going...

Visited during Yayoi Kusama's Dots Obsession exhibition. The show was a fine complement to this architectural gem. Personally I don't know how Johnson was able to stay in the house in the summer without proper ventilation, other than by keeping the doors open, what about mice and other critters wandering inside? Ahead of its time for 1949. Definitely worth a visit and you won't be disappointed from the moment your shuttle arrives at the entry gate to the grounds. Knowledgeable guides escort you from the visitor centre downtown. Worth the price of admission. Depending on your interests, you should be able to find a tour package well suited for you. Magnificent setting in a beautiful town in a...