DISCLAIMER: John M Johansen is not, I repeat NOT a finalist.He is, at almost 94, the last of The Harvard Five surviving Eliot Noyes (1977), Marcel Breuer (1981), Landis Gores (1991) and Philip Johnson (2005). One has only to be offered the chance to hear him speak and perhaps to meet him to convince one to rearrange schedules, apologize to relatives and program the GPS. One such occasion presented itself this Sunday when Mr. Johansen appeared at the home of the late, and great, photographer Robert Damora's home which is now being offered for sale in Bedford New York.
The house itself is of some note as well. As previously reported here, it is Philip Johnson's Booth House, his first post grad commission after graduating Harvard. The Damora family jokes openly about the "feedback" they have been receiving after labeling the house "Philip Johnson's First House". That house, known as the Ash Street House was done while Johnson was still at Harvard and although it is arguably Johnson's "first" I think we can all understand that this is his first professional house.
The house has it's own website at http://philipjohnsonsfirsthouse.com, is surrounded by park-like grounds and includes Robert Damora's own studio. It is being offered at $2m.
The event gave us the opportunity to meet Janet Lindsrtom from the New Canaan Historical Society, folks from The Glass House, other fans of mid century modernism and reconnect with others we had met before like Frederick Noyes who was nice enough to talk to us a couple of years ago at Noyes House II (see the interview here) and William Earls author of The Harvard Five in New Canaan, a great book on the subject.
The best part was, however, meeting and talking with John Johansen. This man is a direct link to The Harvard Five and through Walter Gropius (and his wife Ati Gropius Johansen), The Bauhaus. While he is 94 he still has a great sense of humor and was engaging to speak with. A full out blast.
All in all a fine day with a true American Idol.
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