Historic New England: Gropius House

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Header image with a striped background reading "Historic New England Gropius House"

When thinking of historical houses in New England, we often picture a Georgian style from around the mid-18th century or the time of the American Revolutionary War, or an opulent mansion from the late-19th to early-20th century, also called the American Gilded Age or late Victorian Era. However, Gropius House was build in 1938, right before World War II, by a German family fleeing the Third Reich of the Nazi party. Walter and Ise Gropius designed the unique house, which still houses its original furniture and décor, while their thirteen-year-old daughter Ati gave input.

Not far from Codman Estate in Lincoln, MA,  the house belongs to Historic New England (HNE) and was designated as a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service in 2000. The house combines elements of a traditional New England Colonial style and the German Bauhaus style. Other external features of the house include a winding metal staircase connected to Ati’s bedroom, climbing roses, and an outdoor shower.

The front view of a white, Bauhaus style house across a lush, green lawn and in front of tall trees A simple, cantilever roof over a cement patio, enclosed with floor to ceiling glass windows A three-quarters view of a white, Bauhaus style house with an enclosed back porch and a wooden trellis Cluster of red roses Cluster of pink roses growing on a whitewashed wooden trellis Gropius House has been designated as a National Historic Landmark... National Park Service United States Department of the Interior Another side view of a white, Bauhaus style house taken from a lower angle. A large tree blocks part of the house from the viewer. The standard black and blue Historic New England sign, which reads in part "Gropius House 1938" A side view of a Bauhaus style house with a prominent chimney painted deep green. A whitewashed wooden trellis emerges from the building behind the chimney. A light pink rose framed by green leaves A black, metal, winding staircase with minimalist railing descends from the top story of a white, wooden, Bauhaus style house onto the lush green grass below. The previously described staircase stands behind a spike, abstract, metallic sculpture surrounded by greenery. 


Hall & Study

Gropius House boasts two front doors. The left door leads to the hall, while the right door opens into the study or office shared by Walter and Ise Gropius. The atrium showcases a tightly wound staircase with stark, metal balusters. White, vertical paneling mimics the lines of the staircase and recalls the siding found on colonial style houses. Upturned wall sconces emphasize the linear pattern. Rows of mirrored windows create the back wall of the office, allowing natural light to enter the dining room on the other side. The desk is covered with artwork created by the Gropius family or collected from around the world. I loved their pair of vintage hole punchers next to Ise Gropius’ typewriter.

A glass wall made of square tiles with horizontal waves, allowing light to filter to the other side but not allowing viewers to see the other side A pair of vintage, metal hole punchers A wooden desk with a mid 20th century rolling chair. A typewriter sits on the desk near a pair of vintage hole punchers, artwork, and paperwork. Looking down a flight of steep, winding stairs with a metal railing. 
A wall sconce made of a metal bowl shines up at the vertical wall slats, emphasizing the shadows along the wall Looking up a winding staircase with a metal railing A view over the previously described desk out the window to the front yard. A winding, metal, outdoor staircase is visible. A wider view of the previously described desk, this view emphasizing the ancient artwork on the window sill above the desk, along with a portrait of Walter Gropius laying on the desk.

Living Room & Dining Room

Eighty years before House Beautiful and HGTV contributed to the popularity of the open floor plan, the Gropius family designed their living room and dining room as a single unit. Manuals on architecture and design line the bookshelves outside the office door. Several books feature the Bauhaus movement founded in part by the Gropius family. Comfortable chairs designed by the Gropius’ artistic friends decorate the space. A version of the fluffy “Long Chair” is still made by Isokon, while the “Womb Chair” design by Eero Saarinen for Florence Knoll is also in production. Visitors are invited to sit and relax for a moment. Artwork hangs on the walls, including a paper mobile and bright, geometric paintings. Even the ash tray is a custom design.

The bespoke lighting in the dining room is a remarkable feat of design. The light illuminates only the surface of the round table, whose white, reflective surface makes guests’ faces glow. HNE regularly hosts a program “Evening at Gropius House”, when the lights are turned on to show this effect.

A packed bookshelf along a whitewashed wall, with many books featuring the Bauhaus movement on their spines. 
A radio console complete with "rabbit ears", metal rods about a foot long that pick up radio signals. A macro shot of the previously mentioned bookshelf, focusing on a stack of books about the Bauhaus movement. Abstract art. A clear sheet of glass split by a curving yellow stripe and specked with angular blotches in duller colors. A rectangular painting in shades of gray and blue, with squares and rectangles stacked on top and beside each other. A single circle dominates the upper right of the painting.  A decorative ceramic ashtray with a geometric pattern. A floor to ceiling window overlooking a covered patio An otherwise plain gray chair shaped to completely support the sitter’s body A mobile made of paper creating the appearance of triangles or squares depending on the angle it is viewed A view out a massive window to a trellis and expansive yard outside. View also includes the previously mentioned radio console. A similar view of the sunroom as previously described, this time near a glass door leading to the outside. 
The round dining room table set for dinner, with multiple plates, a bowl, silverware, and a napkin at each spot. A standard black rotary dial telephone, with the earpiece resting on top of the body, and a round, white rotary dial below. A long, fluffy, white lounge chair with wooden legs connected to the wooden armrests. A view of the fireplace, with the previously mentioned artwork. The glass sheet with abstract shapes is above the fireplace, while the paper mobile is to the upper left. The same glass wall in the Study appears in the dining room. A metal lamp with the same bowl as the sconces stands on the left. A shelf with knickknacks cuts across the lower third. A view that captures almost the entire dining room in the foreground (including the dining table view) and living room in the background (including the fireplace view to the left, and the radio console plus long chair on the right). A regular kitchen in the background, with a door leading to an industrial style kitchen with metal cabinets in the foreground.

Second Floor

On the second floor, accessible by the tightly wound stairs, are the main bedroom with an en suite bathroom, two smaller bedrooms, and a porch. The main bedroom belonged to Walter and Ise Gropius. A clear window separates Ise’s extensive makeup table from the rest of the bedroom, allowing the flow of light and heat while dampening sound. The wool rug hanging behind the bed as a headboard comes from Iraq via architect Louis McMillen, who donated this replacement to HNE after the original rug, which he gifted to the Gropius family in the 1960s, became too faded to display.

The guest room provided sleeping accommodations for two people. A highlight of the room is a silk screen sketch for a mural painted in the Harvard Graduate Center dining hall, where Walter Gropius was teaching at the time. Down the short hall is the third bedroom, originally belonging to Ati Gropius. She had requested for a floor made of sand and a ceiling made of glass but settled for a door leading to the porch and a winding metal staircase.

A small bedroom with a pair of twin sized beds against the right wall placed foot to foot. A side table with a lamp, desk, and desk chair sit the the left of the beds underneath a window, which spans the length of the room. The dark brown side table beside one of the guest beds, which holds a lamp and three small knickknacks. Chinese calligraphy in black ink on red paper on black posterboard. A queen size bed covered in a white quilt, with a decorative red quilt acting as the headboard, and a black-and-white dress crossing the foot of the bed.  A white dress with black embroidery similar to many rows of four-leaf clovers, and long, black fringe on the bottom hem. Two-dimensional abstract art made of metal and paint. A black background with white lines to create a three-dimensional effect. A standard toilet, but the Gropius family used it. The sign on the tank of the toilet reading "GROPIUS HOUSE MUSEUM BATHROOMS DO NOT FUNCTION PLEASE USE PORTO FACILITIES AT THE FOOT OF THE DRIVEWAY"  A long, horizontal, rectangular abstract art with high contrast and primary colors Abstract gray metal sculpture with many intersecting planes A square shaped abstract oil painting representing white tools on a cream background held in a thin wooden frame to match the deep brown of the tools' shadows. A hall closet with a gingham curtain for a door. A deep brown, round, woven basket with an amber yellow, six-pointed star, sits atop whitewashed cabinets with another smaller basket and a small abstract painting on the left, and a bonsai on the right.
A wide angle view of a bedroom, with a thin mirror and shelf holding knickknacks to the left, a daybed with a yellow cover from center to left. Abstract art hangs between the daybed and a wall length window.  The opposite of Ati's room from what was previously described. An orange bed sits in the bottom left corner, while a bookshelf spans the wall beneath a wall-length window. On the far wall, above a wooden desk and chair set, hangs the "Tools" artwork.  In the background, behind a glass partition, is the previously described queen bed. In the foreground in a long, black makeup table filled with cosmetics and mementos. A mirror hangs on the glass partition. 
The corner of the previously descibed makeup table meets the wall underneath a large window. Behind a piece of abstract art, a portrait of Ise Gropius sits on the table, leaning against the wall.


Porch

With its soft pink wall and dark green chimney, the porch is a selfie opportunity. The porch provides a view of the landscape, with a wooden trellis for climbing plants, a variety of seasonal flowers, and flowering trees. Navy blue and white striped canvas barriers stretch across the edge of the porch to bring the space up to modern building codes, as the Gropius family did not add wooden slats to the porch railings.

A porch with plain wooden floorboards, a pastel pink wall on the left, and a white wall on the right. The ceiling is made of pergola style white boards. My face in front of the pink wall. I have short brown hair, thick rimmed glasses, and wear a red shirt.  A forest green chimney splitting through the white porch ceiling 


Conclusion

For those who love old house tours but are looking for a change of pace, Gropius House is an excellent choice. The site is a must-see for Bauhaus enthusiasts and those looking for modern interior design inspiration.

At the time of my tour, masks were required inside Gropius House. Short steps lead into the house, while the second story is accessible only by stair, so those with mobility issues or using a wheelchair cannot tour this house.

While an exceedingly well-behaved four-year-old was on my tour, I do not recommend this house to families with young children. The house is filled with original art and ceramics within touching distance, and the pathways through the rooms can be narrow.


Abby Epplett’s Rating System:

Experience: 8/10

Accessibility: 3/10

Location: 68 Baker Bridge Rd #3105, Lincoln, MA 01773, USA