This Nature Lover's Dream House In Illinois Is Made Entirely Of Glass
By Elizabeth Crozier|Published April 02, 2018
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Elizabeth Crozier
Author
An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. With more than five years of writing experience, Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites, and her poetry and short stories have been published in multiple literary journals.
Imagine a home with no walls. This glass house in Illinois near the river town of Plano lets you experience just that. If you love nature, you’ll be jealous that this dream home doesn’t belong to you.
On the bright side, you can still check out the whole thing in person. Scroll on to learn how you can visit this unique place.
Stunning Farnsworth House faces the Fox River near the small town of Plano. It is located about 50 miles southwest of Chicago and was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1945 with the modern minimalist European architecture style in mind.
Made of glass and steal, the home spans 1,500 square-feet and sits on a 62-acre plot of gorgeous scenery. The full price of the house was $74,000 upon its completion in 1951.
This glass house is so stunning that a model was included in an exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
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Though magnificent, the structure is actually quite simple. It consists of two horizontal slabs connected by steel poles and large windows that allow the home to blend in with its surroundings.
This glass house was designed to be a country retreat for Dr. Edith Farnsworth, a prominent Chicago kidney doctor who wanted a private place to practice hobbies like playing the violin, translating poetry, and enjoying nature.
During construction of the house, conflict arose between the designer and commissioner. The house ended up costing about $15,000 more than was budgeted for, and Mies sued for payments that were not made. The court eventually ordered Farnsworth to pay since she had approved the design and budget increase.
Farnsworth sold the property in 1972 to Peter Palumbo who added air conditioning, art work, and landscaping. He owned the house for 31 years before selling in 2003.
Since then, it has been operated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is open to the public. Tours are available April through November and last about 90 minutes. The cost is $20, and hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This amazing Illinois glass house was made a National Historic Landmark in 2006 and was placed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2004.
Farnsworth House is located at 14520 River Road in Plano, and you can learn more on its official website here.
