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Volume 71, Issue 76,
Thursday, January 26, 2006
News Speaker discusses preservation of architect's legacy Event honors 100th birthday of Architecture Building designer Johnson by OMAR ELBA
The Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture hosted a lecture Wednesday in honor of Philip Johnson, the man who designed UH's distinctive Architecture Building. The events commemorate what would have been Johnson's 100th birthday. Johnson died in 2005. Martin Skrelunas, the director of preservation at what's known as the Glass House, Johnson's home in New Canaan, Conn., said Johnson was the most influential American architect of the latter half of the 20th century.
Martin Skrelunas presented a lecture Wednesday in the College of Architecture Theatre about the famed glass home of Philip Johnson, the designer of the UH Architecture Building. Dusti Rhodes/The Daily Cougar "(Johnson) couldn't give up design," Skrelunas said. "Life for him was all about design. I felt his passion for architecture was boundless and inspiring." Johnson's contributions to the world of modern architecture not only impacted structural design and architectural style during his lifetime, but are sure to remain influential for many years to come, Skrelunas said. In Houston, he designed the Transco Tower, the Post Oak Central Office Complex, Pennzoil Place, the Republican Bank Center, the campus plan for the University of Saint Thomas and the chapel at the University of Saint Thomas. The evening's lecture was spent discussing the preservation efforts of Johnson's Glass House. Skrelunas, who spent eight years with Johnson prior to his death, presented a slideshow of pictures of the house and illustrated its innovation and unique design. Many people are eagerly awaiting the public opening of the Glass House, Skrelunas said. The Glass House sits on a 45-acre site surrounded by forest. Skrelunas called the landscaping around the home remarkable, and noted that the property features a doghouse and library. The pictures in the slideshow also revealed the gradual evolution of the Glass House. Johnson continually added new elements to the home throughout its existence. In addition to the lecture, photographers Valentin Gertsman, Paul Hester, Richard Payne and Frank Welch interpreted Johnson's buildings using their own work, in addition to other well known images. The exhibit is titled "Philip Johnson: Four Photographers" and will be on view in the Architecture Building gallery through March 24. Send comments to dcnews@mail.uh.edu |
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