John Johansen's Villa Ponte/Bridge House/Warner House

I had the pleasure of touring the Bridge House on Saturday in New Canaan, Connecticut.  The house was designed by one of the Harvard Five (see this post), John Johansen, in 1956.   Villa Ponte, as it is also known, is noteworthy for it's location (built over a river in a hilly, wooded area) and it's "Palladian ideal" floorplan, essentially a bridge with three arches at the center, with similar square rooms at each corner.  Although Johansen designed modern structures, he appreciated the aesthetic of the classic architecture of Palladio and incorporated many of those elements into his work. 

After leaving Harvard, Johansen worked for Marcel Breuer and later, the National Housing Agency in Washinton, D.C.  Next, he joined Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill in New York and in 1948 he opened  his own practice in New Canaan. Johansen was also an adjunct professor at the Yale School of Architecture.

My impression of the house was that Johansen had successfully "brought the outside in."  When inside, the river, the trees and the sky are visible at nearly every angle thereby giving one a feeling of lightness, calm and serenity.  The structure was well preserved and solid, perhaps built with high quality materials.  It would be interesting to view the house at night and to see the effect of the exterior lighting as well. 

The Bridge house is one of the few moderns built by the Harvard Five that has remained in the hands of the original owners, the Warner Family.  It only recently changed hands and is now owned by the propietor of an art gallery, a man with artistic sensibilities who no doubt will preserve Johansen's design legacy while imprinting the residence with his own style.  Images via the historical home blog.

Comments

[Tom Lozzi]

Hello...I recently called the New Canaan Hist Soc. to see if Villa Ponte(one of my favorite Modern Homes) is ever on their House tours. They said no. Then I came across your blog. I am jealous. Would you mind telling how you got to see the house?
A fellow admirer of beautiful modern architecture...Tom

[annkent]

Hello! Villa Ponte was on the Modern House Tour two years ago. The very cool aspect of my visit was that as our group approached the house on foot, John Johansen was leaving the house via car!

[Tom]

Hello...Thank you for getting back to me. I do not think I would have the same luck of bumping into the home owner and getting a tour as you. So if possible, do you know the name and/or address of new owner so I can write him and see if a house tour is scheduled in the near future? I hope there is. Thank you again, Tom