Gropius House
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Gropius House was the family residence of noted architect Walter Gropius (1883-1969) at 68 Baker Bridge Road, Lincoln, Massachusetts. It is now owned by Historic New England and is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday (June 1-October 15, and weekends (October 16-May 31). An admission fee is charged.
Gropius was founder of the Bauhaus and one of the most influential architects of the 20th century.
This house was his first architectural commission in the United States. He designed it in 1937, when he came to teach at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design, and it was built in 1938. It remained Gropius' home from 1938 until his death in 1969. (Gropius had a benefactor. Mrs. James J. Storrow offered him the site and the capital and was so pleased with the result that she allocated house sites to four other professors as well, two of which Gropius helped design.)
The house caused a sensation when built. In keeping with Bauhaus philosophy, every aspect of the house and its surrounding landscape was planned for maximum efficiency and simplicity. Gropius carefully sited the house to complement its New England habitat on a rise within an orchard of 90 apple trees.
Set amid fields, forests, and farmhouses, the Gropius House mixes up the traditional materials of New England architecture (wood, brick, and fieldstone) with industrial materials such as glass block, acoustical plaster, and chrome banisters. The house structure consists of the traditional light wooden frame of New England, sheathed with white painted clapboard siding; however, the siding runs vertically instead of horizontally. Striking as it is, the house was built with economy in mind, and total construction costs were $18,000.
All family possessions are still in place, including a remarkable collection of furniture designed by Marcel Breuer and made in the Bauhaus workshops. Artwork includes personal gifts by Josef Albers, Joan Miró, and Henry Moore.
