Collection ID: 6161903

Collection context

Summary

Creator:
Johansen, John MacLane, 1916-2012 and Harvard Five
Abstract:
John Maclane Johansen received his architecture degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 1942 where he studied under Walter Gropius. He worked under Marcel Breuer and at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill before opening his own private office in New Canaan, Connecticut, where he became known as one of the Harvard Five. He later formed a partnership with Ashok Bhavnani. Major projects include the Oklahoma (Mummers) Theater in Oklahoma City; the Goddard Library at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts; the Charles Center Theater Building (Mechanic Theater) in Baltimore, the United States Embassy in Dublin, Ireland, and the Island House and Rivercross apartments on Roosevelt Island, which he completed with Bhavnani. Johansen also designed numerous private residences in Connecticut and New York, and a series of conceptual projects such as the Leapfrog City project and the "Moon Module" house. The collection largely documents Johansen's professional career, and includes original and reprographic architectural drawings, photographs, negatives, professional papers, publications, reference files, and one scale model.
Extent:
1,423 drawings, 17 print boxes, 3 document boxes, 1 item, and architectural model
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

John M. Johansen architectural drawings and papers, Dept. of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library.

Background

Scope and Content:

The collection includes original and reprographic architectural drawings, photographs, negatives, professional papers, publications, reference files, and a scale model. Covering Johansen's body of work extensively, the documents in this collection can be divided into two major groups: firstly, documentation of architectural projects by his office, and, secondly, manuscripts and published essays written by him.

Biographical / Historical:

Born in New York City in 1916, Johnansen received a master's degree in architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 1942, where he studied under Walter Gropius. He worked under Marcel Breuer and for the National Housing Agency in Washington, D.C., before joining the New York office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Johansen opened his own private office in New Canaan, Connecticut, in 1948, and became known as one of the Harvard Five. In 1965, he formed a partnership with Ashok Bhavnani, and John Johansen Associates was later renamed as Johansen & Bhavnani. His major projects included the Oklahoma (Mummers) Theater in Oklahoma City, Okla.; the Goddard Library at Clark University in Worcester, Mass.; the L. Frances Smith Elementary School in Columbus, Indiana; Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind.; the Charles Center Theater Building (Mechanic Theater) in Baltimore, Md.; Staten Island Community College in Staten Island, N.Y.; the United States Embassy in Dublin, Ireland, and the Island House and Rivercross apartments on Roosevelt Island, which he completed with Bhavnani. Johansen also designed numerous private residences in Connecticut and New York state, as well as a series of conceptual projects, including Leapfrog City, "Bubble Cluster", Mag-Lev Theater, and "Moon Module" house. John M. Johansen died in 2012.

Acquisition information:
Source of acquisition--Gifts from John MacLane Johansen. Accession number--1998.008, 1998.011, 2001.010, 2009.010.
Processing information:

This collection was re-processed by Robin Hartanto Honggare (Graduate Intern) in 2018-2019 under the supervision of Shelley Hayreh, Avery Archivist.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access

RESTRICTIONS:

This collection is available for use by appointment in the Department of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University. For further information and to make an appointment, please email avery-drawings@library.columbia.edu.

PREFERRED CITATION:

John M. Johansen architectural drawings and papers, Dept. of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library.

LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
300 Avery Hall
1172 Amsterdam Avenue M.C. 0301
New York, NY 10027, United States
CONTACT:
212) 854-6199
avery@library.columbia.edu