Johnson, Philip Cortelyou

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US architect and architectural historian. Originally designing in the international style of Mies van der Rohe, he later became an exponent of postmodernism. He designed the giant AT&T building in New York City in 1982 – a pink skyscraper with a Chippendale-style cabinet top.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, and educated at Harvard, he became, in 1932, the first director of the department of architecture and design at the Museum of Modern Art, New York City (a post he held until 1954), where he built the annexe and sculpture court. His famous Glass House (1949) in New Canaan, Connecticut, showed that the most important influence on his work was Mies Van Der Rohe, with whom he collaborated on the Seagram Building, New York City (1958). However, in later works Johnson incorporated elements from traditional styles, for example the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery (1963) at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and New York State Theater (1964) at Lincoln Center, New York City. His writings include The International Style (with Henry Russell Hitchcock; 1932), which gave a name to the modern movement in architecture.

Black and red recall the tunics worn by soldiers during the Napoleonic wars. Gold was added to create a flag similar to the French tricolour, a symbol of revolution. Effective date: 23 May 1949. >>