Article by Tara Williams

Overview

During and even before his notable career as an architect, Philip Johnson was both a critic and historian. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1906 and went on to study at Harvard University where he earned a degree in the classics. Johnson traveled throughout Europe after graduating in 1927, where he developed a strong interest in European architecture. He was greatly influenced by three remarkable architects: Karl Friedrich, H. H. Richardson, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. These three men played a significant role in shaping the wit and taste of Philip Johnson. Johnson was heavily associated with the Museum of Modern Art in New York, which later turned into the beginning of his career as an architect in New York. He designed buildings such as the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center (1964) and the Seagram Building (1956), to name a few of Johnson's remarkable architectural contributions. In Providence, Johnson's work can be seen at Brown University, where he designed the computer lab (1939) and the List Art Building (1971).

Selected Works

List Art Building (1969-1971) 64 College St.

Sources

Macmillan Encyclopedia of Architects. Vol. 2 of 4. New York : The Free Press, 1982.

Woodward, W. McKenzie. PPS/AlAri Guide to Providence Architecture. Providence : Providence Preservation Society, 2003.