Projects by Name

John Hagerty first approached Walter Gropius to build a summer house for his mother, Josephine, and his two brothers. Hagerty first became interested in modern architecture during his undergraduate studies at Harvard, and a lecture by Gropius at the Architectural Club in Boston confirmed his choice of architect. The commission quickly morphed into a full-time residence with five-bedrooms and a three-car garage. Gropius and Breuer designed a two-story steel and wood frame house rising above a substantial fieldstone foundation containing the garage and service spaces. A screened-in porch projecting from the main, rectangular body of the house was supported by lally columns and reached by one of Breuer's signature staircases in which the treads seem to float in space. The roof of the porch functioned as an open air terrace. As with many of the houses designed by Gropius and Breuer it is difficult to ascertain each partner's contribution. Isabelle Hyman credits Breuer with consolidating elements of Gropius's initial design; the functions contained in a stair tower were incorporated into the garage block. The firm's relationship with their clients deteriorated significantly over the course of the construction, culminating in a long letter from Josephine Hagerty chronicling the problems with the design. Breuer's equally long response reveals that his memory of events differed substantially from that of his client. Problems were caused by changes requested by the clients and the fact that the contractor and suppliers were unfamiliar with the construction of modernist architecture, in particular the installation of large plate glass windows and sliding doors. Gropius and Breuer also underestimated the ferocity of the weather on the Atlantic coast. The clients made significant changes to the house and eventually sold the house in 1960. The new owners restored it to the original design.