Philip Johnson meets Maurice Sendak, perhaps

This could be an all-good-outcome situation. The former headquarters of Schlumberger, Ltd in Ridgefield, CT is being considered to house and exhibit the works of Maurice Sendak. Although the combo seems a little incongruous – a corporate HQ for an oil and gas drilling equipment and technology company + the creative works of the author/illustrator of possibly the most moving and indleible children's books – it is great to think that the museum will be in the town where Sendak lived and that people will get to see this building, which is totally hidden from viewing as a drive-by.

After close brushes with being razed or bought by an art collector for his private collection, this seems like a very good fit for all. – GF

Make room on the bookshelf – here comes Cape Cod Modern

Metropolis Books has a June 2014 issue date for Cape Cod Modern – Mid-Century Architecture and Community on the Outer Cape by Peter McMahon, (Director of the Cape Cod Modern House Trust), and Christine Cipriani, with Photographs by Raimund Koch. Check it out and pre-order here. If you order now, you'll have until June 9 to scoot those other design and architecture books over to make room. You may need to clear a whole shelf, though, when you see all the other wonderful offerings at artbook.com. . . – GF

Man-made weather events for The Glass House

While this could be pretty cool to see first hand, my initial reaction in, "Why?". It's especially ironic that the first manufactured fogs are due to begin rolling in today, May 1, 2014, while Mother Nature has an intense fog show going on right outside my window, 8 miles away from PG's house . . .

Although I'm sure they've thoroughly researched the effect extra moisture can have on the building, I'll desperate, as usual, to keep humidity out of and away from my house this summer.

Let us know if you visit The Glass House while one of these fog events occurs, and what you thought of it. – GF
Images by Richard Barnes

Coming up: Life and Work of Frank Lloyd Wright in and around NYC

Sign up for Inside/Out: Frank Lloyd Wright and The City, a long weekend of tours and exhibitions to benefit Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House Complex in Buffalo, NY.

The description on the Martin House Complex website's events page promises “exclusive access to Wright-designed private residences, entry into museum special exhibitions, and the unique opportunity to visit Manitoga, the home and studio of famed mid-century designer Russel Wright”.

The event takes place Thursday, 22 May – Sunday 25 May, and since space is limited, you should reserve your spot quickly by calling 716-856-3858. Reservations are due by April 8.

I first heard about the Martin House Complex at one of the New Canaan Historical Society's Modern House Day Symposiums when Toshiko Mori was a speaker and showed photos of the elegant visitor's center called the Greatbatch Pavilion that her office had just completed. 

The long-weekend event sounds like a great time for FLW enthusiasts to pack in a lot of interesting and diverse viewing. – GF

John Johansen landmark building to be destroyed. Maybe.

The very cool-looking Mummers Theater in Oklahoma City will be demolished, says this story on Archinect. But according to this, on A | N (Architects Newspaper) blog, maybe it won't be. We shall see. – GF

Jens Risom at Silvermine

Make a point of visiting the Silvermine Arts Center in New Canaan, CT in the next couple of weeks to see "The Answer is Risom", an exhibition of Jens Risom's furniture design. Jens's work is so important and relevant that anyone interested in Modern or good, timeless design in any medium should see it (if not live with it). The show runs January 8 through February 16, 2014. The opening reception is this Sunday, January 12, from 2 – 4pm. Read more about the exhibition here.

Another compelling reason to visit The Guild, as we used to call Slivermine Artis Center, is to see works by Robert Gregson. Known perhaps predominantly for his architectural photography and his kinetic, graphic and colorful sculptures in wood, this show of Bob's will be drawings. See more of Bob's wonderful, completely engaging work here. The opening for Bob's show is also Sunday, January 12, from 2 – 4pm, but the show comes down February 1.

See you Sunday at Silvermine! – GF

(Risom portrait from Knoll.com)

Gem of a little house sits lightly on its landscape

Reminiscent of Philip Johnson's Glass House, this guest house by Desai/Chia Architecture is a lovely gem. Modern principals expressed in totally up-to-the minute terms, including incorporating good energy practices like geothermal, rain water harvesting and photovoltaic.
What reminds me of the Glass House is the 'solid' core, which in P.G's home's case was just the bathroom, but here it houses the (probably considerable) mechanicals as well as the bath, so the surrounding perimeter is free to expose itself to the landscape. With no headers above the glass walls, this ceiling really does appear to float. The wood interior looks to be perfectly crafted – floor to ceiling.

Crisp and streamlined, yet warm, inviting and extremely livable. I'd love to be there the morning after a good snowstorm. via Pursuitist – GF