20 of the World's Most Beautiful Midcentury Modern Buildings

The Glass House that served as architect Phillip Johnson's residence is one of 14 structures on a 49-acre property in New Canaan, Connecticut, built in 1949. Thanks to its minimal architecture and striking use of glass, the house is considered an absolute masterpiece of the midcentury modern period.

Unlike many of his contemporaries, Mexican architect Luis Barragán's approach to midcentury modern design included bold colors and cubist shapes, but always in the context of nature. In the equestrian estate of Cuadra San Cristóbal, he juxtaposed the buildings' geometric lines and flat planes with brightly painted walls in pink, orange, violet, and the striking blue waters of the estate's fountain.

Completed in 1951 by renowned American-German architect Mies Van Der Rohe, the Farnsworth House is a midcentury modern icon. Its glass façade, stripped of any ornamentation, and elevated on white beams, continues to impress and inspire with its striking simplicity.

Richard Neutra remains one of the most important modern architects. After moving from Austria to the United States, he collaborated with Frank Lloyd Wright and Rudolf Schindler before venturing out on his own. One of his most renowned projects is the Kaufmann House in Palm Springs, California, which he completed in 1947. The house, quite simplistic in design, is built around the main living and dining rooms and features a swimming pool that has become one of the most recognizable features of this landmark property.

The TWA Flight Center at JFK airport, completed in 1962 by Finnish architect Eero Saarinen, made its glamorous debut during the Golden Age of Flying.  The winged structure became a modern sensation, but it was only open for about 39 years before the terminal closed down. In 2019, after an extensive renovation, the building reopened its doors (in all its midcentury modern glory) to travelers and guests as part of the luxury TWA Hotel.

Washington D.C.'s most infamous structure is also one of the midcentury modern period's landmarks. Overlooking the Potomac River, The Watergate Hotel, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property, opened to the public in 1967. It quickly became one of the nation's capital's glitziest addresses, a meeting point of A-list celebrities and political luminaries. But after the 1972 break-in of the DMC offices that eventually led to the Watergate scandal and the resignation of President Nixon, the building changed ownership many times. Finally, in 2016, architect Ron Arad restored the hotel to its glamorous heyday revamping the lobby and rooms in midcentury modern style.

Frank Lloyd Wright needs no introduction. America's most famous architect was a proponent of organic architecture, and nowhere is his unique approach to design more obvious than Fallingwater—a private residence perched on a rocky hillside above a beautiful waterfall in Mill Run, Pennsylvania. In 2019, the magnificent structure, together with seven other Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Completed in 1949 by husband-wife duo Charles and Ray Eames, the Eames House (also known as Case Study House No. 8) is a two-story double structure built as part of The Case Study House Program that challenged architects to design homes with modern life in mind.

The building's façade with its colorful panels is reminiscent of a Piet Mondrian painting. At the same time, the highlight of the interior is undoubtedly the simplicity of the open floor plan—a novelty feature for that period.

Built in 1956, Hotel Valley Ho in downtown Scottsdale is a midcentury modern icon that has welcomed the likes of Tony Curtis and Zsa Zsa Gabor (celebrities loved the privacy it offered away from the prying eyes of the Hollywood paparazzi). Designed by local architect Edward L. Varney who had a penchant for minimalist design, the property has kept its distinct midcentury modern vibe. Rooms sport wood paneling, exposed concrete, and versions of iconic pieces of furniture from that period, such as Eero Saarinen’s Tulip table and Knoll lounge chairs.

Leave it to Frank Lloyd Wright to turn a county civic center into an architectural treasure and a national landmark. The famed architect's last commission and his largest public project was designed in 1957 and consisted of a striking three-story 580-foot long administration building, a four-story, 880-foot long Hall of Justice, and a circular post office.

The Malin House, aka Chemosphere, is a single-story octagonal-shaped residence in the Hollywood Hills. It was conceived by John Lautner, who designed it for Leonard Malin, an aerospace engineer, whose budget at the time was about $30,000. The result was a UFO-like structure suspended on a 29-foot high concrete column that offers impressive views of the San Fernando Valley.

Los Angeles International Airport's Theme Building is a modernist landmark created by midcentury architectural firm Pereira & Luckman (less than a decade later, Charles Luckman would design New York City's Madison Square Garden). The spider-like structure was inspired by the Space Age and is surrounded by a decorative screen wall, a distinctly midcentury modern element.

When Frank Sinatra came to Palm Springs in the 1940s, he commissioned architect E. Stewart Williams to build a Georgian-style mansion. Fortunately, Williams managed to convince the singer that something more "desert appropriate" would look better, and in 1947, construction began. Twin Palms Estate went on to become one of the most famous buildings, not only with its chic décor and midcentury modern architecture, but also with the celebrity crowd that it attracted.

Oscar Niemeyer was one of Brazil's most prolific modernist architects who designed many civic buildings in the capital, Brasília. One of them is the official residence of the President of Brazil, Palácio da Alvorada. The building's most notable feature is its futuristic marble columns that became a symbol of the city and were even incorporated in its flag. 

While the exterior of O'Keeffe's Abiquiú home was designed in Native American and Spanish Colonial styles, after the artist purchased the estate in 1945, she completely redesigned the interiors with the help of her friend, Maria Chabot. They added midcentury modern furniture, updated the amenities, and O'Keeffe decorated the rooms with rocks and bones—it’s now the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe.

The Australian Academy of Science's striking dome design was a highly unusual choice for 1959, but that's exactly what the academy's Building Design Committee wanted—a visually appealing, non-traditional structure. The architect who delivered the best proposal was Sir Roy Grounds—one of Australia's most prominent modernist architects. And while construction did present several challenges, the result was worth it—the building, dubbed The Shine Dome, is now a famous landmark in Canberra and is even included in the country's National Heritage List.

Located just outside of Rio de Janeiro, Casa das Canoas was architect Oscar Niemeyer's family home, built in 1951. It is recognized as one of the country's most prominent examples of modern architecture. Its beautifully curved design was inspired by the surrounding landscape—a prominent feature in many midcentury modern structures.

The Golden Age of Flying in the ‘50s and ‘60s led to the construction of many airport terminals in some of the country's biggest cities, including the nation's capital. Eero Saarinen was the architect behind Washington D.C.'s second airport—Dulles—located about 26 miles west of the capital in Northern Virginia. For this project, Saarinen, who worked alongside civil engineering firm Ammann & Whitney, was inspired by the idea of flying, so he settled on a modern wing-like shape for the building. The structure features floor-to-ceiling windows and a beautifully curved roof supported by cables.

Vladimir Ossipoff was one of the most influential architects in Honolulu in the middle of the 20th century. He created buildings in harmony with nature, full of light, and always incorporated elements of local culture. One of these buildings was the Liljestrand House, built on the hills above Honolulu overlooking the city, Diamond Head State Monument, and Mamala Bay. The two-story house is a true masterpiece of midcentury modern Hawaiian design that, to this day, is preserved and can be enjoyed in its original condition.

One of Palm Springs' most iconic hotels, L'Horizon Resort & Spa, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property, was designed by William F. Cody in the 1950s and gained a cult celebrity following thanks to its stylish midcentury modern interiors, private bungalows, and dramatic backdrop: the San Jacinto Mountain Range. Hollywood A-listers such as Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable, and even a couple of U.S. presidents, were regular guests of the luxury property that continues to be one of the most exclusive addresses in the renowned resort city.