Although Massachusetts is perhaps best known for its quaint, colonial architecture, for farmhouses and churches, for Shaker villages and Georgian college dormitories, the state also has a strong legacy of modernism, particularly in residential architecture. This is in part thanks to Walter Gropius and his prot\u00e9g\u00e9 Marcel Breuer, the Bauhaus masters who fled Nazi Germany and settled in Lincoln, Massachusetts. Not only did both Gropius and Breuer construct modern homes for themselves, but they began inspiring a new generation of architects while teaching at Harvard University\u2019s Graduate School of Design. One of their students, Philip Johnson, built his first project \u2014 a home for the architect \u2014 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.<\/p>\n
The influence of Gropius and his acolytes notwithstanding, architects in Massachusetts have developed a modern lexicon of design influenced by the region\u2019s historic homes and vernacular architecture. This language was born out of a variety of aesthetic influences, but also responds to the region\u2019s dynamic landscape, from forested mountains in the west to a vibrant coast in the east. Homes in Massachusetts must also protect residents from an equally dynamic climate and rapidly changing seasons. The following projects incorporate the state\u2019s utilitarian language of design, each house bearing a specific relationship to its local environment. Yet they also represent the influence of international modernism in the twentieth century, a movement that used Massachusetts as a testing ground for future transformations to the American landscape.<\/p>\n
\u00a9 Nat Rae<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n
\u00a9 Nat Rae<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n
\u00a9 Nat Rae<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n
Mid-Century Modern in Lincoln<\/b><\/a> by Flavin Architects<\/a>, Lincoln, Mass., United States<\/p>\n Flavin Architects\u2019 remodeling project took place in Lincoln, Massachusetts, concerning one of the many modern homes constructed in the shadow of Gropius\u2019s own residence. Renovations were made to conserve the structure, rather than distract from its original character. The house\u2019s interior features wide, open spaces, lofty ceilings and a limited color palette to draw attention to the home\u2019s natural surroundings.<\/p>\n \u00a9 Maryann Thompson Architects<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n \u00a9 Maryann Thompson Architects<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n \u00a9 Maryann Thompson Architects<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n The Small House<\/b><\/a> by Maryann Thompson Architects<\/a>, Great Barrington, Mass., United States<\/p>\n Similarly, The Small House is designed with great concern for its rural setting of Great Barrington. Built in compliance with local codes drafted to preserve the Berkshire Mountain landscape, the house is discreetly set into the mountainside, while still offering expansive views through its wall-length windows. The structure is conceived of as a modern cabin, with prominent use of cedar throughout, and a minimal, utilitarian approach to interior design.<\/p>\n \u00a9 Emile Dubuisson<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n \u00a9 Emile Dubuisson<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n \u00a9 Emile Dubuisson<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n Lake House<\/b><\/a> by Taylor and Miller Architecture and Design<\/a>, Mass., United States<\/p>\n Rather than trying to blend in with the serene Western Mass landscape, Lake House takes the form of a monumental sculpture, like an abstraction of the region\u2019s large glacial erratics. Though the house\u2019s fa\u00e7ade is rigid and geometric, the building opens up in several large windows along the lake\u2019s shore. The house\u2019s interior is likewise abound with contrasts and contradictions, from low rooms of exposed concrete to a soaring, wood-lined steeple.<\/p>\n \u00a9 Studio Luz Architects<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n \u00a9 Studio Luz Architects<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n Meyer Residence<\/b><\/a> by Studio Luz Architects, Ltd.<\/a>, Boston, Mass., United States<\/p>\n Located on a narrow plot of land in Boston, Meyer Residence makes efficient use of space through a vertically oriented design and an open floor plan for common spaces. The house\u2019s wood-panel siding echoes the surrounding trees, allowing it to become an extension of the natural environment, rather than fading into its urban surroundings. A central stairwell leading to the roof allows light to pass through the entire house, enlivening the home\u2019s brightly colored interiors.<\/p>\n \u00a9 Chuck Choi<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n \u00a9 Chuck Choi<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n \u00a9 Chuck Choi<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n Chilmark House<\/b><\/a> by Charles Rose Architects Inc.<\/a>, Chilmark, Mass., United States<\/p>\n Nestled in the forests of Martha\u2019s Vineyard, an island off the coast of Cape Cod, the Chilmark House embodies the seclusion and tranquility of its setting. The house\u2019s low profile and natural wood exterior allows it to blend in with the trees around it, while an angled floor plan allows for many sightlines and private spaces within the home itself. The design forgoes excessive decoration in order to let the character of natural materials stand out. Rather than designing a house that draws attention to itself, the building is treated as an extension of the surrounding landscape.<\/p>\n \u00a9 Lemmo Architecture and Design<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n \u00a9 Lemmo Architecture and Design<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n \u00a9 Lemmo Architecture and Design<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n Carl\u2019s Way Residence<\/b><\/a> by Lemmo Architecture and Design<\/a>, Dukes County, Mass., United States<\/p>\n Carl\u2019s Way Residence is another Martha\u2019s Vineyard home with a focus on integration with the surrounding environment, as well as the building\u2019s impact on that environment. The project\u2019s horizontal design creates a low profile, while preservation of natural undergrowth provides greater privacy. The home is also heavily insulated, constructed with low-energy materials and outfitted for solar power.<\/p>\n \u00a9 Hammer Architects<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n \u00a9 Hammer Architects<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n \u00a9 Hammer Architects<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n Slough Pond Residence<\/b><\/a> by Hammer Architects<\/a>, Truro, Mass., United States<\/p>\n Located in Truro, Massachusetts \u2014 another coastal town on the edge of Cape Cod \u2014 Slough Pond Residence involves the renovation of a mid-century modern home, with contemporary additions designed to match the original. The house prominently features wooden floors, ceilings and siding, as well as a series of large windows facing the adjacent pond. Hammer Architects imitated these elements in the new additions, while discreetly transforming the summer retreat into a residence suitable for the whole year.<\/p>\n Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizer<\/a>\u00a0and sign up for our\u00a0inspirational newsletters<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Modern homes provide new responses to the unforgiving Massachusetts landscape.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"architizer_featured_type":"projects","architizer_featured_image":"1941948","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,3],"tags":[15],"architizer_project":[],"architizer_brand":[],"architizer_firm":[],"architizer_product":[],"class_list":["post-12115","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-collections","category-inspiration","tag-collection"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\t
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