Glass House in the Woods

An architect-designed Mid-Century Modern (MCM) gem of gracious living. If you are after mid-century kitsch, look elsewhere. This Glass House is high-end architecture and design preserved to 1959. If the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel had more money after her stint at Bryn Mawr College, this is where she would be living. Owned by an architectural historian. Designed by architect Robert von Gerbig who had worked in the office of Louis Kahn, this 3,500-square-foot home is a significant mid-century glass house in the style of architects Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Neutra, and Philip Johnson. The living room, dining room, and kitchen spaces, arranged in a row and divided by Japanese shoji screens, are united by a bank of south-facing windows that dissolve interior and exterior. A glass atrium courtyard centers on a mature Japanese maple as a small pond with waterfall enlivens the entryway. Colorful terrazzo floors unite the entry with exterior, and wood parquet floors run throughout the large-scale living spaces. A massive stone modern fireplace dominates the living room, further made distinctive by high ceilings and dramatic wood beams. The large master bedroom suite includes a massive bedroom that fits a king-size canopy bed easily alongside an additional living space, and an adjoining bathroom, dressing rooms, and Juliet balconies round out the suite. The house's mid-century furniture is in the style of Knoll, Saarinen, and Eames with the addition of Danish teak pieces. We have significant furniture by Paul McCobb and George Nelson original to the house. Much like the work of Richard Neutra, the extensive glass in the house offers moments of unexpected reflection and complex optics, particularly at night. All interior walls are painted white, but most of the house is glass.