A Massachusetts Architect’s 1963 Family Home Still Feels Ahead of Its Time

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Project Details:

Location: Lincoln, Massachusetts

Architect: Earl R. Flansburgh

Footprint: 2,382 square feet

From the Homeowner: "Earl Flansburgh was a modernist architect in the Boston area for nearly half a century. Throughout his career, he advocated for his profession, serving as the president of Boston Society of Architects in the early ’80s.

"Flansburgh + Associates primarily designed institutional buildings, such as the Boston College Library (1997) and the subterranean Cornell University Campus Store (1971). Mr. Flansburgh rarely took on residential clients, however in 1963 he designed a home for his own family which came to be known as the Flansburgh House.

"Built in Lincoln, Massachusetts, within a wooded area, the home features a courtyard surrounded by interior windows which beckon the outdoors into every area of the house. Today, the all-white structure is highlighted by striking yellow bands that run along the vertical side of the windows.

"The home’s floor plan was featured in a 1966 issue of Better Homes & Gardens, offering a glimpse into Flansburgh’s architectural approach: He placed bedrooms and bathrooms on one side of the home, and living areas and the kitchen on the other. Connecting the two is the home’s entrance, courtyard, as well as a playroom area for he and his wife Polly’s two young children.

"Inside, the home features architectural curiosities that still resonate today: An accordion wall can transform the open entryway into a private space with courtyard views. Another stand-out design element is a curved wall that contains a hidden closet. The most surprising architectural detail, however, is the home’s underground tunnel leading to the garage, which was added in 1967.

"Although Flansburgh died in 2009, Polly subsequently secured an easement that ensures the house cannot be demolished or significantly altered."

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