Gropius House

Walter Gropius

Walter Gropius (1883-1969) wanted his New England home to fit naturally into his adopted landscape. He incorporated those aspects of New England’s architecture tradition that he found still relevant, like a wood exterior, brick chimney, and fieldstone foundation, yet he chose modern features like ribbon windows and glass block that would give the house a decidedly modern appearance. All elements would have to be commercially available and preferably mass produced. As the house would serve as a calling card for his architectural practice and the first public example of the regional approach to architecture that he championed, this merging of traditional and modern was intended to offer a New England house for a modern age.