After reading John’s impressive autobiographical book, A Life in the Continuum of Modern Architecture, I read his book, Nanoarchitecture: a New Species of Architecture.
I was intrigued with his innovative application of nanotechnology in architecture. I had questions about the ethical implications of nanoarchitecture, its inevitable impact on society and nature. Incredible... but possibly disastrous to our natural environment.
I began to see some ideas for a film. I called John to discuss my feelings.
When I asked, “Well, John, what do you say about finally making that film we talked about?” he replied, “Let’s go!” Two months later I was on a plane with my co-producer Marguerite Lorimer, flying from San Francisco to New York to start the process.
As we pulled into the driveway of John Johansen’s upstate New York home my mind flashed back over the years I had known John. I had first been to this house, named the Tent House by Johansen because of its unusual shape, back in l974 when I photographed it for Architectural Plus magazine.
We parked the car, walked up to the house, and I felt like I was entering a time warp. Even though I had not seen the house for over 30 years, it looked exactly the same as I remembered it. It’s inventive, experimental spirit was still strong, present and alive.
I peered through the sliding glass door and caught the eye of John’s wife, Ati Gropius-Johansen, daughter of Walter Gropius, who welcomed us in with a great smile. “Come in! John is upstairs, I will call him.” We walked into the house and put our equipment down.
John soon appeared at the top of the house’s magnificent three-story spiral staircase. With an arm raised high above his head he called out his greeting: “Hello, John! Entree du!” and descended the stairs with the agility and spirit of a much younger man.
I was amazed to see how little he had aged since our last meeting in 1999.
