The $7.7M price tag includes the construction of a modern complement designed by Reja Bakh Everyone knows the iconic Glass House by American modernist Philip Johnson in New Canaan, Connecticut. Perhaps lesser known is a follow-up design, located just a five-minute drive away from the 1949-built masterpiece. Completed in 1953 for Johnson?s friend, Alice Ball, the namesake home is often referred to as a ?livable? version of the Glass House.
While still compact, low slung, and rectilinear with plenty of glass to go around, the Alice Ball House offers more privacy despite its proximity to the street. The 1,773-square-foot all-white residence features an airy open living and dining area surrounded by glass walls, but the kitchen and two bedrooms are more enclosed.
The property, sitting on 2.2 acres with an original guest house and Johnson-designed sculpture garden, is now on the market for $7.7 million. What?s with the eye-popping price tag" That?s because the sale would include the approved plans and construction for a new modern home, which architect and current owner Reja Bakh specifically designed to complement the Johnson structure.
The property has a bit of a complicated history. Before Bakh bought the home for $2.3 million in 2015, it had, at various points, been threatened by demolition to make room for a larger, more market-friendly home. Of course, in a town known for its midcentury modern gems, preservationists were always waiting in the w...