Most of us New Englanders know that Boston has a rich history which very much includes landmark buildings. For more information on historical landmark buildings, STOP READING NOW, and go pick yourself up a real historical guide HERE.
If you are still reading, you are like us - interested in finding sometimes hidden corners where great design lies, waiting to be explored. Sometimes these buildings or spaces are hiding in such plain sight that you may have walked by them many times and not lifted your face out of your phone to notice.
The great thing about Boston’s Architecture scene is that it is pretty off the radar, you will find that many tourists come to Boston and head to Faneuil Hall or the North End or to the BPL. We are going to take you right past these areas and recommend heading into some of the other corners of the city. And for all you New Englanders who have nightmares about going to to Boston - don’t worry, it’s not that scary.
Boston skyline from Boston harbor
Let's assume, if you are still reading, that you actually give a SH#T about Design and Architecture. Let’s also assume you are ready to strap on your black chucks, grab your camera and sketch book, and head out into this concrete jungle called Boston.
Cambridge - First stop, not Boston? There is so much worthy Architecture in Cambridge, MA (thanks to MIT and Harvard), so let’s begin here. With a short walk around Cambridge you will be able to experience Kresge Hall, MIT Chapel and Simmons Hall all within about a 5 minute or less walk from each other. Just down the street, check out Frank Gehry’s Stata Center. The Chapel is usually open to visitors, however, most of the other buildings will be difficult to get into if you are not an MIT student, staff, or really good at slipping in unnoticed. Each of these buildings brings a unique history to the MIT campus. Each in plain sight might not register as influential to the general public, but to us Architects, each makes a small notable stamp to the international passport of great buildings. Moving down to Harvard, be sure not to miss the Carpenter Center. It is only one of two Le Corbusier buildings in the United States. Not far from there, you can cut through Harvard yard and take a little stroll by Harvard’s Graduate School of Design (GSD) Gund Hall. There are many more great structures to explore in Cambridge so don’t let us stop you here, but moving on and making our way across the Mass Ave bridge, let’s get you into Boston proper.
Back Bay - Our first stop in Boston is not a building per se, but instead a glass map of the world. Some of you guessed it, the Mapparium which is part of the Christian Science Center. I know so many people who live in Boston who have never gone, go there, see it, love it. While there, take some time to walk through the late I.M. Pei designed Science Center plaza and study the details at the Ann Beha entry addition to the Baker Eddy Library. Now, one of the most overlooked pieces of experiential architecture in Boston is the Bodega. This is right around the corner from the Mapparium, so if you are here, find it. You will be glad you did. I am not going to give you any further information than this, you have to walk through the best stuff on earth.
Ok, moving further away from downtown try heading to the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum. The addition was completed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop and not only are the old and new buildings worth studying from outside, but the entire museum is worth your time inside. Within a short walk of the Gardener museum you will be able to see the Foster + Partners addition to the Museum of Fine Arts. In order to fully experience the addition, you will most likely need to purchase admission to the museum. At this point, don’t overlook some of that historical Boston we talked about. You will be right on the edge of the Emerald Necklace which is part of Boston’s public pathways and gardens all around the city designed by none other than Fredrick Law Olmstead. Walking or, let’s face it, UBERing back into Back Bay there’s still a lot to see, but if you are a modern architecture junky you will find yourself skipping right to the Hancock tower. As you walk toward and around this glassy blue beauty, keep your eye on it. The tower has many shapes from different parts of the city, most notably from the South End looking back. Weather plays a huge roll on the structure’s simple outline. Oh and the wind…you will know you are there when you feel the straight vortex that takes place in Copley square. If you don’t already know it, you can get to the top of the Hancock tower. Do it, this is a great way to understand how Boston’s urban planning has changed over the years.
Seaport - We questioned whether or not to send our friends to Boston’s Seaport District, but Diller Scofidio + Renfo’s [strike-Renfo at the time of design] ICA building just cannot be missed. We apologize in advance for the rest of the Seaport district. It is not the city’s finest representation of urban planning for its citizens. But do explore the ICA. The interior lobby is open to the public, but after that you will need to purchase admission. At this time the ICA still has free Thursdays, which is pretty cool. OK, now it’s time to leave the Seaport.
Downtown Crossing - As an Architect, one of the most satisfying buildings to look at in Boston is City Hall. Walking around the plaza and being one of the few that understands the value of this building is like looking through a secret lens that no one else has. Listening, you will hear a wide range of comments from tourists and locals alike which range from calling it the Old State House to calling it a concrete bunker, to I remember hearing they were going to tear it down. In Boston, we are lucky to have one of the best examples of Brutalist Architecture (aka Heroic Architecture). The lobby and much of the building’s ground level spaces are open to the public. Being a public building for the people, you will have to go through metal detectors. I like to think the interior of this building is like our country’s version of an European cathedral. If you are able to, get to the 9th floor and get a tour of the model room. This is another great way to see the city in yet another format. You might even catch a glimpse of a new proposed building model and how it fits into the surrounding context.
West End - Working your way over to the West End, you come across yet another massive piece of concrete in the form of a building. Paul Rudolph’s Mental Health Building set the stage for the police station in the movie The Departed, but otherwise is not very well known to generalists who come to walk the city. At times, there are high chain link fencing holding you back from engaging and sharing an edge with this building, but walk the entire perimeter and you can usually find some paths through that are not roped by construction or security. This building represents an important time in Architectural History with the brutality of concrete and permanence at the forefront of what Boston as a government and Massachusetts as a state was trying to define to its citizens and to the world.
There are many more buildings, spaces, corners, and edges to engage with in Boston. Hopefully this has gotten you inspired to hit the ground walking and using your eyeballs. Sketch, photograph, and touch these structures. You don’t need to love each one, but it is certainly worth appreciating each for the role they play in developing an urban fabric for us Explorers, Designers, Architects, Photographers and everyone in between to look at.
List in order of appearance on reel:
Kresge Auditorium - 48 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139; by Architect Eero SaarinenMIT Chapel - 48 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139; by Architect Eero SaarinenSimmon Hall - 229 Vassar St, Cambridge, MA 02139; by Architect Steven HollStata Center - 32 Vassar St, Cambridge, MA 02139; by Gehry PartnersCarpenters Center at Harvard University - 24 Quincy St, Cambridge, MA 02138; by Architect Le CorbusierGund Hall - 48 Quincy St, Cambridge, MA 02138, by Architect John AndewsMappiarium Room - 200 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02115, by Architect Chester Lindsay Churchill Bodega - 6 Clearway St, Boston, MA 02115; designed by Oliver Mak (co-founder)Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum - 25 Evans Way, Boston, MA 02115; Original Architect William T. Sears; Addition by Renzo Piano Building WorkshopMuseum of Fine Arts Boston - 465 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115; addition by Architect Forster and PartnersInstitute of Contemporary Art - 25 Harbor Shore Drive, Boston, MA 02210; by Architect Diller Scofidio + RenfroBoston City Hall - 1 City Hall Square #500, Boston, MA 02201; by Architect Kallmann McKinnell and WoodState of Massachusetts Mental Health Center - 25 Staniford St, Boston, MA 02114; by Architect Paul RudolphStudio Field Trip: Gropius House - Lincoln, MA
Some years ago now we ventured our way out to the Gropius House in Lincoln, Massachusetts. This house is open to the public and occasionally has special events. At the time, they did not allow photos to be taken inside, but all exterior photos were permitted. Walter Gropius founded the Bauhaus School and later came to the US to head the GSD at Harvard. His home that he designed and built in Lincoln, MA is a great example of European influence blended with New England elements and materials. This was a modern architectural movement that took place all over the United States during the 1930’s well through the 70’s and still is influencing Architect’s today. The Gropius House is a perfect pilgrimage for an Architecture Student or any person looking to understand a small part of the roots of Modernism in the US.
Ask an Architect: What exactly is an Architect?
Ok, so we meet a lot of people each month and this month I spoke with two different potential clients that both asked me, what exactly is an Architect? Each surprisingly followed up to answer their own question. One stating; “is that like a builder or something?” and the other remarking, “oh, wait an Engineer, right?” I answered each of them with a similar response. An Architect is a licensed design professional that specializes in detailing and defining how a building goes together as well as the general coordination of the design team. Then I realized something, this definition or some version of it is exactly why these two (and many others) still don’t know what an Architect does. So I asked myself, how can I better answer this question? Is there a better way to use something familiar, something from another industry, because our industry is anything but familiar to those who don’t build and design everyday. So here goes: An Architect is like a Chef. The Chef creates the recipe but doesn't necessarily cook the food. A really good Chef can oversee the execution of their ideas, and can make sure that each dish is plated correctly and the final product is perfect. So the recipe for me is equivalent to my drawings, details and specifications. And the food, well, that is the actual building. So in other words, I create a set of instructions through drawings, images, details, phrases, notes and specifications all with the hopes to clearly define and communicate how my design will become a built space.
On this Day…
Happy Birthday!
George Nelson
With Hugs and Kisses,
