Philip Johnson

Date of Birth: July 8, 1906

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: January 25, 2005

Biography

Philip Cortelyou Johnson was an influential American architect known for his diverse and often controversial contributions to modern and postmodern architecture. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Johnson developed an early interest in architecture and art. He studied at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, where he was profoundly influenced by the works of Mies van der Rohe and other modernist architects. Johnson’s career took off when he co-authored “The International Style” with Henry-Russell Hitchcock in 1932, which helped introduce modern architecture to a broader audience in the United States. He gained notoriety for designing the Glass House in New Canaan, Connecticut, a seminal example of minimalist and modernist residential architecture. Over his long career, Johnson’s style evolved, reflecting his eclectic tastes and willingness to embrace new trends. He was instrumental in bringing postmodern architecture to the forefront, most notably with his AT&T Building (now known as the Sony Tower) in New York City, which features a distinctive “Chippendale” top. Johnson’s work earned him numerous awards, including the first Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1979. His legacy includes a vast array of buildings, from private residences to corporate skyscrapers, each marked by his unique vision and innovative use of materials and forms.

5 Interesting Facts about Philip Johnson

1. Philip Johnson was the inaugural recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1979, often referred to as the Nobel Prize of architecture.

2. He designed the Glass House in New Canaan, Connecticut, which is considered one of the most important works of modern residential architecture.

3. Johnson co-authored “The International Style” in 1932, a book that played a crucial role in popularizing modernist architecture in the United States.

4. He was a controversial figure due to his early admiration for fascist regimes, a stance he later renounced.

5. In addition to architecture, Johnson was a passionate art collector and served as the first Director of the Department of Architecture at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Philip Johnson

1. “Architecture is the art of how to waste space.”

2. “All architecture is shelter, all great architecture is the design of space that contains, cuddles, exalts, or stimulates the persons in that space.”

3. “I like the thought that what we are to do on this earth is embellish it for its greater beauty.”

4. “I hate vacations. If you can build buildings, why sit on the beach?”

5. “The job of the architect today is to create beautiful buildings. That’s all.”