Green Redux

One of Philip Johnson’s modern masterpieces faces an uncertain fate in the southwest corner of Connecticut. Not far from his personal home, The Glass House, in New Canaan, Johnson’s 1953 Alice Ball House sits on shaky ground at the center of a gripping controversy. Remodeled and on the market for $3 million, the 1773 square foot glass-walled gem Johnson dubbed the “little jewel box” heads into 2008 under only one of two possible scenarios: sell to a modern architecture savior or meet the wrecking ball.

The house has been in the hands of architect Cristina Ross since 2005 when she purchased the property for $1.5 million. Her plan to use the Ball House as an accessory building and add a larger residence to the 2.2 acre property has stalled in local wetlands zoning - the driveway needed for the new structure would encroach wetlands on the property.

While Ross has legal standing to demolish the dwelling as early as January 28, 2008 - demolition notice signs have appeared on site - the loss of the Ball House would be a severe casualty in the struggle to preserve modern architecture. Inflated real estate prices are paving the road to extinction of these national treasures in a shortsighted trend that is only increasing.

The location of the Ball House, within commuting distance to New York City, places it on a pricey piece of land. Architectural significance aside, the “value” of the property as a building lot is around $2 million in today’s market. And Ross isn’t willing to wait for tomorrow’s market, even just 9 months after listing the house with Sotheby’s.

The Ball House remains for sale with the owner’s demolition permit applications in place and a community of preservationists scrambling for a solution under a a 90-day demolition delay granted in mid-November. Nearby, the Glass House draws a steady stream of visitors under operation from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, whom Johnson left his home to when he died in 2005.

The National Trust is working to create awareness of the significant role that New Canaan plays in preserving modern architecture and the International Style. However, as the clock ticks on the Ball House, it appears that that awareness will soon have one less historical reference standing.

Interested buyers contact Prudy Parris at Sotheby’s in New Canaan.

More:

• Small House, Big Problem at Preservation
  
• Also follow the fate of the Alice Ball House at Sphere