My collection of ideabooks focused on regional differences in modern and modern residential architecture continues with Boston, Mass.. One of the earliest cities in the United States, Boston has become known for its leading universities (Harvard and MIT, to name two), its biotech and medical centers, and of course its sports teams. It is apparent from the sampling below that houses calling the largest city in New England home cover a far larger area than the distinctive urban core and adjacent suburbs. Nevertheless, these houses illustrate something unique about this darkened corner of the U.S.
More regional modern architecture:
Chicago | Austin | NYC | New York Metro | Seattle | Oregon
Northern California | San Francisco | L.A. | Coastal L.A.
Hammer Architects
Cape Cod is to Boston as Long Island is to New York City: a method to leave town and get in touch with nature, especially the Atlantic Ocean. Houses on Cape Cod reflect the high property values of the peninsula, as well as a respect for the place. This house in Truro blends into its context via timber cladding and a generous trellis.
Cape Cod style across America
Hammer Architects
Hammer Architects is obviously taking the cold winters into account in their addition by minimizing the size of openings on certain exposures. In an environment of natural beauty and intense cold, houses must balance the desire for the two views and warmth.
Hammer Architects
Another residential addition on Cape Cod (Wellfleet) by Hammer Architects exemplifies these two considerations: a few predominantly solid exterior walls give way…
Hammer Architects
… to expansive glass along with a screened-in porch that takes advantage of opinions along with the generous outdoor area. The house also includes an indoor lap pool with sliding walls that open into the outdoors; Cape Cod is a park of sorts, after all.
Hammer Architects
Another Wellfleet house by Hammer Architects reveals a rustic flair at the weathered wood siding on those predominantly solid walls. Generous glazing on the other side of the house opens into a massive deck.
Maryann Thompson Architects
Martha’s Vineyard, an island south and west of Cape Cod, is yet another popular draw for New Englanders. This house by Maryann Thompson Architects also utilizes timber cladding and sliding walls to link inside and outside in warm weather. A great indoor-outdoor fireplace (observable in the middle of the photograph ) extends the use of this patio into the cooler months.
Maryann Thompson Architects
Moving nearer to Boston (Westport, to be precise) to a different house by Maryann Thompson Architects, we can observe how the design responds to the site, a meadow. Enormous glass walls bring in plenty of sunlight, but sunlight is reduced via large overhangs. Ringed by a porch, the house appears to be elevated on a plinth, as though it floats on the meadow.
Maryann Thompson Architects
By separating the interior spaces, breezes are allowed to funnel throughout the house.
Maryann Thompson Architects
And now we see how the generous porch is echoed at the roof, making sheltered outdoor spaces.
Hammer Architects
Arlington, northwest of Boston, is the place for another improvement by Hammer Architects. A neighboring house appears in the distance, meaning privacy is also an issue with the positioning and size of windows. The timber cladding works well alongside the brick first; it’s not only for Cape Cod.
Marcus Gleysteen Architects
This house is located at Lincoln, west of Boston. The landscaped grounds are stunning and well-framed by floor-to-ceiling windows that alternative with white brick cladding.
Chang + Sylligardos Architects
Also west of Boston is Newton, in which the past couple of houses in this collection are located. This impressively large and intricate house selectively locates and sizes that the windows, addressing both climate and privacy. The cantilevered top floor on the right is clad in timber, a recurring element in the area.
Chang + Sylligardos Architects
This smaller residence from the same architects is also covered in timber, however, the two volumes are treated distinctively: the grey box uses horizontal planks; the elevated red box is coated with vertical siding.
LDa Architecture & Interiors
Last, this house brings to the fore the history found in the Boston region: the wood-clad exterior that informs many of the prior designs. Here, an addition opts for comparison, with metal rather than wood and massive expanses of glass.
More regional modern architecture:
Chicago | Austin | NYC | New York Metro | Seattle | Oregon
Northern California | San Francisco | L.A. | Coastal L.A.