The Glass House has been described as “the longest running salon in America.” Great minds and leaders from art, architecture and design gathered in New Canaan, CT at the invitation of Philip Johnson and David Whitney, to engage in intimate and dynamic dialogues. These gatherings launched careers, promoted cultural patronage, and fostered intellectual transformation that have had enormous influence on art, design and culture during the second half of the 20th century.

In 2008 and 2009, the inaugural Glass House Conversations program continued this legacy of gathering great minds to explore important issues and ideas in art, architecture and design during invitational two day events. This program helped to position the site as both context and catalyst for innovation, new ideas and change by bringing divergent perspectives to the table with moderators and participants from across society.

Solution or Sacrilege

Moderators
Jean Gardner, Parsons, the New School for Design
Susan Szenasy, Metropolis Magazine

Participants
Dorothy Dunn, The Glass House; Steven Ehrlich, Steven Ehrlich Architects; Steven Heller, Co-Chairperson of the School of Visual Arts, MFA Designer as Author program; Michael LaFetra, Foundation Films; Christy MacLear, The Glass House; William Massie, Architecture Department Head, Cranbrook Academy of Art; Toshiko Mori, Architect and Chair for the Department of Architecture at Harvard University, Graduate School of Design; Fiona Morrison, Consultant for Terminal 5 Brand, Jet Blue Airways; Nils Norin, French Culinary Institute

Glass House Conversations was sponsored exclusively by Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope®.