DAY TRIPS: Nearby New Canaan is rich in architectural history

Grace Farms’ River building. IWAN BAAN PHOTO

By SUE TREIMAN 

If you appreciate mid-century modern architecture, head to the nearby design mecca of New Canaan, Conn.

The destination, just minutes away, takes visitors to the groundbreaking architecture of more than 70 years ago created by the celebrated “Harvard Five” architects — Philip Johnson, Landis Gores, John M. Johansen, Eliot Noyes and Marcel Breuer. 

The town originally boasted more than 100 architectural masterpieces built by these and other of their contemporaries around the middle of the 20th century. While estimates vary, more than 85 of the structures are believed to still survive, albeit in private hands, where they are inaccessible to the public. Alongside those, a rich array of important architectural sites lures thousands of visitors each year.  

“One of the main reasons people come here is for architecture,” said Nancy Geary, executive director of the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society.  

The Glass House. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

The superstar attraction is Johnson’s Glass House, a national historic landmark. The home, basically a glass box, seamlessly integrates the outdoors with the home’s interior, which is virtually free of room-dividing walls. Begun in 1949, the Glass House crowns a 49-acre site with 13 additional buildings, including the contrasting and totally-opaque Brick House. Johnson occupied the Glass House until his death in 2005, helping to popularize the “open plan” design approach. Visit theglasshouse.org for more information.

Johnson fans eager to see other examples of his work can glimpse the Wiley House located at 218 Sleepy Hollow Road, now a private home. Six Johnson buildings remain in New Canaan.

Nearby, the Gores Pavilion sports a hinged glass façade and dramatic cantilevers. Crafted by another of the Harvard Five, Gores’ 848 Weed St. structure is free and open to the public.

Other mid-century gems dot New Canaan’s Ponus Ridge area, where examples are found on Ponus Ridge, Laurel and Chichester roads. Another important home, at 210 Country Club Road, was created by the first of the Harvard Five to settle in the area, Noyes. The site is among the National Register of Historic Places.

Architecture buffs may also enjoy the award-winning River Building at Grace Farms, designed by the Japanese architectural firm, SANAA. While not a mid-century modern gem, the building’s undulating shape conjures a river that follows the contours of the 80-acre Grace Foundation site. The nonprofit organization’s site is free and open to the public. 

To address your post-tour appetite, navigate to the town’s central business district. Encompassing Elm, Main and Forest streets, downtown delivers a range of meal options from everyday sandwiches to sophisticated fare. Consider Blackbird for cocktails, Elm for American cuisine, Cava for cozy atmosphere or Farmer’s Table for farm-to-table freshness. 

Visit unlockingconnecticut.com for more information.