eli attia architect
Reason, not whim
Projects I designed for Johnson/Burgee Architects
1970–1979
"I can't stand the truth. It gets so boring, you know..."
Philip Johnson
I designed practically all the projects that came to the office
during that decade
The projects I designed
Projects designed by Philip Johnson with John Manley
The only project Philip designed on his own
The projects I designed
Project list in alphabetical order
101 California Street San Francisco CA
Designed after few national firms couldn't meet the client's objectives
Client: Hines
More about
Photographer to be identified
Post Oak Central complex (buildings1,2,3) Houston TX
Designed after Philip's design was rejected by the client
Client: Hines
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Photographer to be identified
Neiman Marcus Department Store San Francisco CA
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Photographer to be identified
80 Field Point Road (Riviere Du Loup Newsprint) Greenwich CT
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Photograph by Richard Payne
Pan American Life Insurance Company Headquarters New Orleans LA
Designed after Philip's design was rejected by the client
Client: Hines
More about
Photographer to be identified
International Arrivals Terminal Ben Gurion Airport Lod Israel
Client: Israel Government
Photographer to be identified
Morningside House Domiciliary & Infirmary Bronx NY
Designed after Philip's design was rejected by the client
Photograph by Richard Payne
Airports research project
Part of the arrangement I had with Philip was that for one day a week I would conduct research as I pleased
General American Life Insurance Co. St Louis MA
Designed after Philip's design was rejected by the client
Philip Johnson & David Whitney's Red House
"Everybody should design their own home." Philip Johnson 1999 Esquire interview
The most unusual request I got from Philip was to design a house for him and his life partner, David Whitney.
In the mid-seventies, amid financial strains, Philip put his New Canaan Estate — including the Glass House — up for sale, and asked me to design a new house for them. Philip's contribution to the design: he wanted it painted red.
As the market rebounded and Philip's financial situation improved, the plan was canceled.
This was the second time Philip requested another architect to design his private residence for him. He previously commissioned Mies van der Rohe to design his New York apartment.
Recreated sketch
Kuwait Banking Center Competition
I did the initial three-towers design, after which Philip took over since my Israeli
citizenship created a problem for Kuwait.
Recreated sketch
Photographer to be identified
Century Center South Bend IN
I did the initial design after which Philip took over since I went to Israel for the Yom-Kippur war.
Photographer to be identified
The two projects I designed, but don't consider mine
AT&T and PPG
AT&T and PPG were the only projects I designed for Johnson/Burgee Architects,
in which Johnson imposed a stylistic direction
(to follow Sir Edwin Lutyens’ style for the facades of AT&T, and
to copy the London’s House of Parliament for PPG).
The two projects marked for me the end of our professional relationship.
Although I designed these buildings, I don’t consider them mine.
Projects designed by Philip Johnson with John Manley
Project list in alphabetical order
Interiors Avery Fisher Hall Lincoln Center New York NY
A complete overhaul of the auditorium interiors
Photograph by Richard Payne
Dade County Cultural Center Miami FL
After Rev. Schuller rejected Johnson's white stucco and red-tiled roof design for the Crystal Cathedral — Johnson applied his vision to this cultural center.
(For more details see the Crystal Cathedral > Design backstory)
Photograph by Richard Payne
Interiors Amalgamated Securities office New York NY
Interiors finishes and furnishing for a small office suite in 375 Park Avenue
The only project Philip designed on his own
As far as I know, no one ever saw it.