apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Is there no modernist equivalent of the 'Save this House' page in This Old House (TOH) magazine.

TOH advertises houses, often free but needing to be relocated (which seems like a reasonable alternative in this case...if she's planning on tearing it down anyway, why not have someone who wants it pay to move it instead...a location suitable to Johnson's original vision could be found in Western MA). Generally, the houses need lots of preservation work, but make it possible for passionate people actually get their hands on them...

The story in the NYTimes is disgusting... but just part and parcel of these heady, greedy times.

Some "architect and developer" (you can imagine the sort of crap she "designs") that it "would make a worthy pool house for a much more au courant dwelling to be built at the back of the property -- an English country house in the style of Lutyens" had her plans blocked by by the city and her neighbours because she planned to pave about 3,000 square feet of wetlands for a driveway and parking area (hell, only the hedge fund managers get to live in these monstrosities, these homages to excess -- waterfowl can shove off and die for all they care).

So she has decided that if she can't sell it for double the price she paid 3 years ago (and triple the price/sq foot that homes on similarly-sized properties sell for in New Canaan), she will tear it down. She claims that she's done her due diligence.

I am.... appalled. The consumerism, the lack of taste, the greed, the gluttony of this story...

Since when is an 1800 sq. ft. house ridiculously small? (even the NYTimes sees it as small). And don't any of these people have a CLUE at how ridiculous they look aping architectural styles that they can't master, that belong a couple or more centuries in the past and on a different continent altogether? Their houses are just ugly and crass and pathetic in what they reveal of their owner's priorities, values, aspirations and style (the lack of).

The Johnson house in question is the exact opposite. It is pure and honest and appropriate. Le mot juste, or, in this case, la maison juste. It is truly American, as truly American as jazz...

ugh!!!!

Why did this B**** buy the place if she didn't want it? Sounds to me like she planned to knock it down/disfigure it from Day-One.

I find it ridiculous that we are here in the 21st century, yet folks are building/remodeling in 18th & 19th century styles...

this is an appalling story. only gratifying thought -- no one will remember this woman long after she is dust. but people will be studying Johnson's work.

In reading this story, I had not so pleasant visions of what should be done w/ the "woman" who should be refered by the more derogatory term that begins w/ a B.

So the house is small by today's standards, big deal. I grew up in a 2200 Sq Ft split entry home w/ 3 older sisters, both parents and at least one dog and a cat, if not 2 of each and even that was barely big enough for all of us, but so many people today want 5 bedrooms, a great room, a bonus room etc, etc and at least 3000 Sq Ft if not larger either childless or with at best 2 kids, what gives?

I so don't want to live in New Canaan anyway. Too snooty for my taste and my vision of a home would look out of place with those monstrosities they are building when it'd be modest in size and modern, echoing the MCM esthethic for the most part.

The May/June issue of Preservation Magazine is dedicated to Modernism - looking at the pitfalls and hurdles in saving the modern vernacular style as well as the seeming no-brainers by the masters of modernism. Such a shame :( I hope her Mc.Mansion sinks into the swamplands with her in it.

Eww... Okay, having just read the NYTimes article I'm even more nauseous. 5 fucking bedrooms?!!!! God forbid your kids learn how to share or something! And seriously - the massive faux Tudor crap is such a waste of time, materials, space, and effort. All you will prove is that you have money. Big deal - anyone can get a job and get money. Taste is a bit harder to come by!

I find it humorous that the "architect/developer" wants a Lutyens style house and bought the modern glass house as a "pool house". She obviously didn't learn much in architecture school.

What's even funnier is her demand for triple the price per square foot. Why not ask for $10 million?

This is the result of a society which values money and therefore power and control rest with those who have it. Instead of valuing culture and placing such property in the hands of a caretaker who will look beyond making a quick buck with it, the property is in the hands of someone with the wealth to procure it and exploit the situation to make more money.

It's a shame, but it's only a more obscene off-shoot of the values that you see everywhere in American culture. We have the culture and socio-economic structure we deserve for making the choices we do as consumers and voters and have no right to complain when things like this happen.

Orchid64 -- very well put.

Wow, must be nice to live in a house that "small".

I'll just go back to the real world where 1,000 sq feet is a huge luxury.