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A celebration of Modernism Book pays homage to architectural gems in New England ByJaciConry GLOBE CORRESPONDENT ture is typically associated with New England residential architec classic Colonial styles gracious Georgians with their symmetri cal facades neatly trimmed Cape Cods clad with cedar shingles But peppered among these historic structures are a handful designed by Modernist pioneers compact unadorned cubic shaped homes nestled in the landscape People think of Boston as a very tradi tional city but it was a hotbed of Modem ism from the 1930s through the early 1970s says David Fixler president of DOCOMOMO US New England a branch of the Paris based group that champions and conserves modem architecture All of the great leaders in Modem architecture did work in New England While many of those homes no longer exist bulldozed in favor of newer resi dences their value has been recognized in recent years and several remain A new book Tomorrow s Houses Rizzoli 2011 — photographs by Geoffrey and words by Alexander Gorlin — homage to the Modem architectural gems that remain throughout New England Modernism originated in Europe and architects guided by the movement s principles began designing buildings in New England in the early 1930s But it wasn t until Walter Gropius a founder of the German Bauhaus a union of free thinking artists designers and craftsmen arrived to teach at the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 1937 that Modernism really took hold here By the end of the decade a consortium of Modem archi tects including Marcel Breuer Mies van der Rohe Philip Johnson and Frank Lloyd Wright were doing work in New England The influx was spawned by the dawn of the Information Age and the design schools at Harvard and MIT attracted some of the best architects in the world says Fixler At the time people were look ing to abandon the weight and decoration of traditional architecture Modernism was about creating spaces where people would feel efficient clean and uplifted There was an emphasis on affordabili ty and sustainability and dwellings in corporated mass produced and industrial materials like steel Regional preservation groups like Historic New England which operates the Gropius House in Lincoln have helped renew public interest in Modernist archi tecture The fervor for sustainability and environmental responsibility has also sparked enthusiasm for mid century works The Modernists fit their designs into the existing topography they kept all the old trees — they weren t bulldozing hillsides to create subdivisions says Sally Zimmerman manager of historic preser vation services at Historic New England Every attempt was made to use the con tours of the land to enhance the beauty of the houses The majority of New England s Mod ernist residences are privately owned but some are open to the public Glass House Considered the supreme Modernist residence in New England this fascinating glass box affixed to a brick base was de signed by Philip Johnson who lived in the house for nearly 60 years Atrue study in the ability to commune with nature the structure features an open loft like space containing the kitchen dining and living areas The sleeping area is shielded by the only enclosure a massive brick cylinder that contains the fireplace and bathroom The rambling estate includes 13 addition al structures designed by Johnson in cluding a brick guest house where the architect slept when the exposure became too much Open daily except closed on Tuesdays Sunday noon 3p m Monday and Wednesday 10 a m 3 30p m Thursday Saturday 10 a m Sp m Must callfor tickets in advance 199 Elm St New Ca naan Conn 203 594 9884 www philip johnsonglasshouse org Frelinghuysen Morris House Studio In 1930 painter George Morris built a studio in the Berkshires based on one in Paris designed by Modernist master Le Corbusier The studio made up of white rectilinear volumes translucent skylights and gridded windows is considered the first Modem structure in New England A decade later Morris married artist Suzy Frelinghuysen and they built a two story stucco and glass block house to accompa ny the studio designed by Boston archi tect George Sanderson The house with its industrial fittings and Art Deco furnishings contains murals and frescoes created by the couple as well as their more famous contemporaries including Picasso Open Thursday Sunday 10 a m 3 p m 92 Hawthorne St Lenox 413 637 0166 www frelinghuysen org Gropius House Soon after he began his tenure at Harvard Walter Gropius was offered land in Lincoln where he designed his personal residence Set amid an apple orchard not far from Thoreau s Walden Pond Gropius chose natural wood clapboard siding and a native fieldstone foundation to align with the New Eng land landscape Yet the hallmarks of Modernism abound the boxy white structure patterned with ribbon win dows has a flat roof and features indus trial materials such as acoustic plaster and fixtures ordered from commercial catalogs Visitors today will encounter the original furniture — much of handmade in Bauhaus workshops along with Gropius s dishes books and correspondence Boston Globe Circulation: 219214 DMA: Boston, MA City: Boston State: MA Account: 1866C0 Date: 06/30/2011 Pub Num: MAD50 Section/Page: 62 Page Count: 1/4 RefNo: 94f6ac Copyright 06/30/2011 The Boston Globe
