The House for to Craftspeople

 

Architecture in New England is - thanks to pioneers of the modern architecture- more than the traditional colonial and historic house types. Last Spring I was lucky enough to visit a wonderful modern house by New Hampshire architect David Campbell (1908-1963).



Soaring roof line of main house (author photo)

 

The house, still in private hands, was designed (1949) for and constructed with help by Edwin and Mary Scheier, pottery artists and teachers at the University of New Hampshire.  Using the slope of the site and orienting the form to best advantage or our climate; transformed this small site into a dynamic experience of grounded planar forms and soaring shed roofs that intersect at the studio to become a butterfly roof.

The house melds seamlessly into its surroundings where driveway leads a visitor to the front door protected by the garage and discovered by a simple linear overhead elements that leads to a foyer and a series of stepped platforms that rise up to the living room, with angled roof and glass wall revealing an overlook upon a landscaped hillside and small stream. The Living and dining space are divided by a sculptural fireplace- suggestive of Breuer’s well know fireplaces. Beyond the dining area is the kitchen and a door that leads to a screen porch under the shed roof with a forward angled wall gesturing to the landscape below.

 

                                            View From Road (author photo)

 While living space occupy the top floor, the foyer level takes one to the studio room and garage or down to the ground floor holds the bedroom areas that open onto a terrace with in place Scheier pottery pieces- an integration of architecture and art. The materials are simple vertical siding, metal glass windows and a clever use of scale and low budget detailing suggesting the depth of Campbell’s knowledge of contemporary architecture.

Campbell's output has been compared to the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. While some of his central New Hampshire homes that were open during a League of New Hampshire Craftsman celebration may exhibit and passing Wrightian interest; another stronger influence appears to my eye.   Both this house has a sister house in Henniker New Hampshire called the Peter Dooley house (1950) have a strong link in style to Marcel Breuer. I visited this other home in 2005 and was impressed with the same thoughtful use of materials and form that created this modern house with a practical bent. This makes sense as Campbell studied at Harvard in the late thirties when Walter Gropius, founder of the Bauhaus and Breuer were both teaching and working together in Lincoln Massachusetts and surrounding Boston area towns.

Period photo of Dooley house (NH state Preservation blog)

 

Campbell was the director of the New Hampshire Craftsman Guild from 1938-1962 and played an important role in attracting and bringing crafts people like the Scheier’ s to New Hampshire to live and work. Campbell left in the early Sixties to design the new home of and direct the American Crafts Council in New York City. Much is yet to be discovered about this unique architect and his houses tucked away in the back roads and town of New Hampshire, perhaps beyond.

So be aware as you drive around the back roads of New Hampshire, you might discover the unexpected and learn some valuable lessons about modern design for the New England Climate. I know I am always looking for interesting houses to visit. Please share your favorites?