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Philip Johnson''s Urban Glass House
By Carter Horsley   |   From Archives Thursday, July 7, 2005
Construction has started on the ?Urban Glass House,? a 12-story condominium apartment building at 330 Spring Street designed by Philip Johnson, the dean of American architecture who recently died, and Alan Ritchie.

Glass House Development LLC, a partnership of Abram Shnay, Charles Blaichman and Scott Sabbagh, recently acquired the site and the architectural plans from Greenwich Street Partners LLC for about $24 million.

The sleek, glass-clad building will have several setbacks and 40 apartments. Its name refers to the famous one-story, glass enclosed residence that Philip Johnson built in New Canaan, Ct., which is one of the icons of 20th Century American architecture.

Tnis project was initiated by Antonio Nino Vendome and originally was much bigger. Ii is adjacent to the James Brown House ?Ear Inn,? and across Washington Street from the Holland Tunnell vent shaft building.

A spokesperson for The Sunshine Group said yesterday that the project is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

Anabelle Selldorf, who has designed interiors for the Neue Gallerie on Fifth Avenue at 86th Street and many prominent contemporary artists such as Eric Fischl and David Salle, will design the lobby and interiors.
Architecture Critic Carter Horsley Since 1997, Carter B. Horsley has been the editorial director of CityRealty. He began his journalistic career at The New York Times in 1961 where he spent 26 years as a reporter specializing in real estate & architectural news. In 1987, he became the architecture critic and real estate editor of The New York Post.