TRANSFORMATION OF A BUILDING TYPE :
A Study of Back Bay Houses in Boston
by
Ricky Pei-Shen Liu
Diplome Par Le Governement
Ecole Nationale Superieure Des Beaux-Arts
Paris, France
1984
SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE
DEGREE
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ARCHITECTURE STUDIES AT THE
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
JUNE, 1986
@
Ricky
Pei-Shen Liu
1986
The Author hereby grants to M.I.T.
permission to reproduce and to distribute publicly copies
of this thesis document in whole or in part
Signature of the authorR
Ricky Pei-Shen Liu
Department of Architecture
May 9,
1986
Certified by
N. John Habraken
Professor of Architecture
^ hesis Supervisor
Accepted by
\jJ
Julian Beinart
Chairman
Tmmittee for Graduate Students
Det
OF TcCHNGLOGY
qotctO JUN 0 4 19S6
LtBRA
i
Transformation of a Building Type :
A Study of Back Bay Houses in Boston
by
Ricky Pei-Shen Liu
Submitted to the Department of Architecture on May 9, 1986 in
partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master
of Science in Architecture Studies.
Abstract
The
explore
objective of this thesis is to
the
transformation
of
(II)
The second part
comprises
a
design
study based
on
the
observed context by inserting
new constraints.
To discover
possible floor-plan variations
within the type, the support/
infill
distinction has
been
applied.
Furthermore,
the
application of the modified type
to
irregular lot
forms
is
studied.
At the end of the thesis unresolved
issues are discussed.
an
existing
building
type
and
the
application
of
the
support/infill
concept
in a new context.
For
this
purpose,
a
traditional
Back
Bay
residential
form in Boston has been
selected.
The
study has been carried out
in
two parts:
(I) Part
One
consists
of
an
observational
study
of
the
existing context. This involved
an analysis on the levels of
urban
structure, urban
tissue
and lot unit.
The rules of the
original Back Bay house type are
Thesis Supervisor:
N. John Habraken
Title:
Professor of Architecture
identified in the last section.
2
Acknowledgements
I
gratefully
acknowledge
guidance and advice of professor
Habraken,
whose experience has
invaluable in the preparation of
study.
the
John
been
this
I would also like to thank Vivian
Fu
for her great assistance during the
process of production.
Finally, my sincere gratitude to my
parents
and
sister,
for
their
encouragement and the sacrifices made in
order to make my study here possible.
3
Table of Contents
Abstract ...........................
2
Acknowledgements ...................
3
Plan of the Back Bay House ......
Envelop ..........................
Part One
Street Facade
Introduction .......................
7
Context
35
................
35
Bay Window .......... ...........
37
Entrances ........................
38
Historical Background .............
10
Architectural Character ...........
15
Garden Fences
Urban Structure ...................
18
Front Yards ......................
District Boundaries ..............
19
Identification of the
Regional Transportation Networks..
21
Original Rules .....................
Tissue Level
28
Front Steps .....................
39
.....................
41
42
43
Tissue Level
Block Form .......................
23
Thematic and
Streets
24
Non-Thematic Elements ............
44
Corner Lots ......................
45
..........................
Lot Level
Lot Organization .................
25
Internal Organization ............
27
Lot Level
Interior Organization
4
...........
47
Part Two
Zone Distribution ....
.........
.
85
..............
49
...............
49
Alternative Position
of Staircase and Elevator.........
87
New Technical Possibility ........
52
Diagram of Basic Variations .......
88
New Constraints ...................
53
Sector Analysis .....................
91
....................
92
Issues Analysis
Changes
.....
in Function
Design Study
for Alternative Solutions .........
Sub-Variations
55
Parking Alternatives ...............
93
70
Block Type ........................
99
71
Irregular Lot Forms ................
104
83
Final Remarks .....................
106
84
Bibliography
Design Study
for Support Structure ..............
Space and Function Analysis .....
Modular Coordination
..............
Wall Positioning ..................
5
...................... 107
Part One
6
Introduction
The
Back
Bay is one of
distinguished
areas
the
most
of
urban
architecture in the United States.
survival
as
a
handsome
Its
Victorian
neighborhood provides its residents with
a unique opportunity for quality living.
The
changes
residential
use
myself
these
how
made
have
for
led
me
originally
modern
to
ask
designed
town houses could be further transformed
in order to adapt to current needs. What
appropriate
generate
without
type?
approach
alternative
should we use
design
violating the orignal
I
importance
am also concerned
solutions
building
about
the
of designing plans that
are
easily adaptable to changing needs.
7
to
The structure of the study has been
rules.
organized in the following manner:
To begin with,
broad
overview
residential
I give the reader a
of
district.
is organized into three
structure,
The
the
Back
Bay
study
(i)
allows
(ii)
This
me
Transformation
Adaptability
to
(iii)
Users
Thus, the
designing
existing
can
space.
type
be
identified.
Over time the Back Bay
residential
area has been undergoing a lot of change
due
to
various forces.
rules
must
take
into
constraints.
new
Part
The
inevitably be
consideration
original
modified
the
to
new
With a discussion of these
constraints
as a
starting
point,
Two gives a design exploration
a
building
of
a
dwelling
within the type.
determine the original rules.
dwelling
of
type.
urban
tissue and lot level.
observational
of issues that I feel are important:
This first part
levels:
study gives attention to a number
of
the Support System based on the modified
8
participation
their
own
in
living
Historical Background
The
Back
residential
broad
Bay,
Boston's
district,
shallow
body
elegant
was originally a
of
water
located
beyond the southwestern shoreline of the
old Boston peninsula.
Boston
The bay separated
from Brookline and bordered
the
narrow neck of land access to Roxbury in
the
vicinity of the present South
End.
Until the creation of the Public Garden,
the
marshes
of the
Back
Bay
reached
Boston Common, and Charles Street served
as a thoroughfare
Development
initiated
Roxbury
scheme
in
Mill
to
commercial
mill
dam
at the
of
water's edge.
the Back
Bay
was
1814 when the Boston
and
Corporation
proposed
harness its tidal
purposes.
completed in
A
flow
a
for
granite-faced
1821
stretched
10
across
the
bay from Charles Street
Sewall's
Point
along
route
a
(now
Kenmore
the public welfare.
Square)
corresponding
present Beacon Street.
to
to
the
In 1852,
A shorter cross-
appointed
by
dam
projecting from Roxbury intersected
prepare
the
mill dam and divided the
Bay
the
Back Bay.
The
in
resolving
into
full
mill
dam
forced
to
and receiving
project
financial
promoters.
and
success
basins.
however,
compete with
manufacturing
Back
was
steam
never
became
envisioned
Railroad
lines
blocked
powered
by
built
the
area.
its
in
the
development
the
to
of
Because of difficulties
conflicting
delay
of
claims
several
immediate filling
Prolonged negotiations
which
on
a
was
the state legislature
a plan for the
ownership,
soon
a special commission
Tripartite
Agreement
to
years
of
the
resulted
of
divided the proposed lands
1856
among
trestles across the dammed basins in the
the Boston and Roxbury Mill Corporation,
1830's
the
further
development
by
frustrated
impeding
water in the bay.
Back
Bay
waters
industrial
the
By 1849,
produced
flow
Boston
Water
Power
Company
subsidiary of the Mill Corporation), and
of
the
stagnating
Commonwealth.
To satisfy Boston's
an
claims,
two
unhealthy and offensive sewerage problem
donated
to
that city health officials demanded that
Commonwealth's share for an addition
the
the existing Public Garden.
such
area be filled in the interests
(a
of
11
and
the
a
half
City
acres
from
were
the
to
filling of the Back Bay
The
in
earlier a frequent source
the city,
by
a
line.
specially
By
constructed
filled as far west as Clarendon
by
the
1870,
Street;
by
fill had reached
1880,
Arthur Gilman,
been
in
Street;
France.
now
plans
and by 1890,
Bay
land
architect
was very much influenced
boulevards
Unlike
of
impressive
Second
lined
the fill extended
beyond Kenmore Square and was continuing
London,
12
Empire
residential
earlier
for Beacon Hill or the South End,
the Back Bay was not divided into
known as the Back Bay District was solid
ground;
Boston
street forms by the
its
Parisian
Exeter
the
to
attributed
railroad
the entire area
Back
The plan for the Back Bay District,/
Needham
the Back Bay had
1860,
its
to the City of Boston.
gravel had to be brought
the area from the town of
into
monumental
At
project had added 450 acres of new
of
land fill, had been completely developed
by the 1850's,
the
completion,
Since the hills of
September 1857.
Road.
State
Bay
along
began
squares
but
was
inspired
by
tree-
Georgian
conceived as a
grand
clientele.
scheme of generously landscaped parallel
avenues.
as
the dominant boulevard of the
provided
linear
green
the
district with
park and served to
open
Public
Despite
Commonwealth Avenue, designed
spaces
a
architectural
area,
general consistency of character,
Common
and
and
Garden with those of the
civic
appealing
This architectural
for
the
most part
a
form,
unity,
by
improvement
as
and
as
district.
individual town houses to the design
a
the
a
Its
plan of spacious streets and
location soon attracted
the city's
town
leading
houses
families.
and
mansions that began to line the
the
Bay
the
linear boulevard plan which subordinated
impressive
of
scale.
determined
Fenway
the Back Bay was planned both
handsome
in
Back
the
of the
substantial residential
of
the
connect
From its inception, the development
major
style,
variations
developed as an area distinguished by
central
system.
of
many
district
were
many
The
splendid
streets
designed
by
prominent local architects and reflected
the tastes of a fashionable and affluent
13
street,
of
was strongly encouraged by
the
original
and
restrictions
imposed
construction.
specified
minimum
a
setbacks
all
on
upon
These
established
called
far-sighted
Bay
restrictions
system
for masonry
Back
building
major
deed
heights,
of
generous
streets,
and
construction.
The
mandatory building setbacks coupled with
later
limitations
development
of
on mass assured
a
continuous
the
street
facade, regular cornice and mansard roof
lines,
and
a
repetitive
pattern
projecting oriel and bay windows.
14
of
Architectural Character
The
Back
architectural character of the
Bay
Residential
determined
masonry
scale,
by an extensive
buildings
of
proportion,
Although
is
complex
similar
of
form,
color, and texture.
variations
traditional
*
District
do
Back
Bay
town
Constructed
of
red
exist,
the
house is:
brick
or
brownstone
*
Three to five stories high
*
Placed
perpendicularly
to
feet
the
wide) rectangular form
with
flat
street
facades enlivened by projecting elements
*
Attached on both sides
including bay windows,
*
Set back 20-22 feet from the front
stairways, balconies, cornices, and door
property line
and
*
Often crowned with a mansard
The
generally
Back
Bay
designed
town
roof
house
as a narrow
window
elevation
is
divided
(16-25
basement,
15
oriels, porches,
enframements.
The
of the Back Bay residence
into
well
defined
upper floors,
levels
main
is
of
cornice and/or
roof,
are
and
long narrow facade
typically
grid-like
arranged
rows.
landscaping,
openings-
within
building
strict
Entrances
accompanying porches are set above a low
corridor
basement
street
or
Ornament
placed
and
at
grade
architectural
heights,
levels.
and
level.
walls
frontages.
the facade.
the
structures
avenue
Back
are
plan
continuity
of
of
Bay,
individual
subordinated
the
this
to
district.
plan
design factor of the area,
is
the
constant
of
The
in
street
only
at
and
are
cross
along
architecture
not
avenue
of
the
Residential
District is restrained
and
dignified,
and
are
few
The
flamboyance
of style,
form,
marked
and unbroken
alignment
apparent
visually
prominent
or
buildings
either
through
irregularity
of
differentiation
of
materials.
walls of masonry construction are formed
from
occur
the
dominant
lines,
and window and floor
intersections
emphasize the structural organization of
In
cornice
Interruptions
generally
detailing
regular
Despite
the
avenues,
separate residences and their repetitive
constructed
16
the dominance of the
notable
on
buildings
all four sides
long
were
of
the
typical Back Bay street block.
Elegant
town houses and mansions frequently face
the shorter east-west streets,
street
are
elevations of
often
corner
elaborately
and side
buildings
designed.
Monumental structures, including most of
the
churches
corner
of the
lots and,
district,
with few
exceptions,
are carefully aligned with cross
as well as avenue frontages.
17
occupy
street
Urban Structure
Back Bay area was developed in
The
the
second
Boston
metropolitan
called
the area now
when
century,
19th
half of the
was composed of small towns with
few connecting roads facilitating horsedrawn traffic.
structure
the urban
Nevertheless,
in the vicinity of Back Bay continues to
be governed primarily by the location of
Boston
Downtown
Charles
River.
functional
the
arteries,
For both historic
and
Massachusetts Avenue.
their
determined
direction
by
the
in
River
the
and
area
is
by
the
railroad and the Muddy River.
expansion
of
Back
Bay
it has
not
basic
organization.
In
district's
presence
the
evolving
relationship between the
and
its
fact,
regional context,
its
the
determinant
The river
by
the
affected
historic courses of the Boston Worcester
represented
Boston has totally altered
metropolitan
penetrate
Back Bay lead to Downtown Boston;
the
Although
major
the
all
reasons,
arteries that either bound or
specific
here
and the course of
for
was
urban
structure rather than a response to it.
also restricts the number of north-south
18
a
District Boundaries
The boundaries of the Back Bay have
been
always clear,
although they
have
transformed in character.
To
provides
the north,
visual
termination
of
construction
created,
relief
of
and
the
and
the River.
identity
it has
The
the city fabric across Arlington Street,
1938
the Back Bay's easternmost street.
and
District
to
District
both
Together
Public
functionally
with
and
the Boston
District's
visually.
Garden acts simultaneously as
central space organizer for a number
Boylston
of
the
Square,
the
Square
area
boundary.
interface
is
of
of
19
the Square,
it;
perceptual
the
Bay's
Back
- beyond
East
the
Copley
of
with
the
unnoticed due
continuity of the street
a
central
a
as
- the
street
southernmost
organic,
Common,
extends
it
therefore,
the
acts
for the buildings around
organizer
space
and the City is more
Square
Copley
city-wide civic amenity.
the
is more complex and ambiguous.
District
strengthened the
the interface of
the boundary of
To the south,
of the Charles River park as a
To the east,
north
of Boylston Street provide continuity of
Restricting access
the river bank,
The
effective
visual
functional barrier between the
other
side of Beacon Street and the south side
area.
a
its
River
Storrow Drive in
however,
and
neighborhoods.
surrounding
Charles
the
Bay
Back
the
between
separation
a visual
as
and
resource,
recreational
a regional
as
districts,
system.
to
Park
the
West
the sharp disruption of
the
urban fabric around the
marks the
Center
district's
course
of
tears
the
the
Turnpike
from
Boylston
District off
Despite
Street.
sunken
Massachusetts
the inconsistency
Kenmore
southern boundary is
the
"ridge"
of
high
rises
of
clear:
south
of
Boylston Street stands in sharp contrast
with the district's typical morphology.
the west,
To
Back
is
Bay
the boundary of
the
Visual
unfocused.
separation is obtained by the Park Drive
overpass
above
interrupting
character
the
the
otherwise
continuous
of Commonwealth Avenue.
street pattern changes at
Avenue,
River,
Muddy
the
and
The
Massachusetts
where Commonwealth Avenue bends
and Newbury Street becomes a back alley.
20
overpass,
Commonwealth
converge
at
and the morphology
of
Beacon Street
Square,
both changes.
the southern edge, the perception of the
District's
of
Avenue
boundary.
the
Massachusetts Avenue,
Past
West
Prudential
Regional Transportation Networks
The interface of the Back Bay
regional
transportation networks occurs
in a number of modes.
and
from
Limited access to
Massachusetts
Turnpike
and
Storrow
Drive
traffic
in the north-south direction is
facilitated
are
marked.
utilizes
all
although
Regional
primarily
Massachusetts Avenue.
five
Commonwealth
through
East-west traffic
through-streets,
Avenue,
Beacon
Street
and Boylston Street receive most
of it.
Public transportation routes are
interfaced
subway
stops
through the three
stations
along
and a number
Boylston
Massachusetts Avenue.
21
with
Back
Bay
of
bus-
Street
and
STUART
=
LIMITED ACCESS FACILITIES
MAJOR ARTERIALS
$
IIIS11I1h
SECONDARY
0
1-
ARTERIALS
COLLECTOR STREETS
O'
500'
22
Tissue Level
Block Form
occasionally
As observed from the illustration
between
12 and 35 lots form a row along
a public street.
are
front
Typically,
positioned back to back,
two
zone
those on the
on one street,
corner
with the set back
separating their front doors
the public sidewalk.
rows
separated
by a narrow alley.
The
rows
aggregate
form of
two
such
and the building on them forms
a
-.
---- -
"block".
Because
in width,
it measures only two
the typical
lots
MM
Back Bay block is
decisively elongated in the direction of
this back alley.
All
buildings in the
row,
execpt
23
lot,
I
from
Streets
There are two typical street
forms
in Back Bay.
Primary street:
between
rows
run
the space created in
the fronts of
of buildings.
two
adjacent
Primary streets
in the east- west direction each
acting
as a collective space for the
majority
of
front
entrances
in
adjacent blocks.
Secondary
street:
the space created
in between the short
adjacent blocks.
run
sides of
Secondary
(i)
two
facilitating public distribution
streets
to
orthogonally to primary streets,
each
to
providing accessthrough
backyards
in
their
the
directional
bias
of
alleys
within
the
access to the
area
and
majority
of the private distinations.
adjacent
(ii)
reinforces
the
and
provide
blocks.
This spatial difference
The wider streets run east-west,
street
system:
The
narrower
streets
falilitate secondary
movements
between
the
east-west
streets,
and provide access
major
to
only a few private destinations.
24
Lot Level
Lot Organization
The rectagular lot measures 110
yard ,
back
The
(iii)
which
to
functions primarily as a service
125 feet in length, and 16 to 36 feet in
access and parking area, extends
width,
between the
with long sides perpendicular to
the street.
In
the
plan,
three
the
major
lot is
sectors
divided
along
to
A
set
back
zone
sidewalk
controls
*
the
the built zone.
The built zone extends from
set-back
zone
accomodating
into
either
four
sectors
front
and
the
in
the
between
rear
the
lot,
three
set-back
is
elevated
The basement level lies five
below
position of the primary plane of
(ii)
The
three
feet above the back alley.
measuring 20 to 22 feet from the
public
service
Section
its
*
mandatory
wall and the
alley.
longitudinal axis.
(i)
back
varying position of
or
the
walls.
2 5
the
street
feet
elevation.
26
Internal Organization
This division pertains uniformly to
via
Front and back entries allow access
the
exterior
facilitating
stair to
a
double-stair
middle
part throughout the
access
via
the
house,
vertical
vertical core, located around the middle
cores
of the "built zone".
control the distribution of spaces along
Only the
service
stairs connect to the basement.
Transversely
occupies
the
the
built
Typically,
zone
entire width of the
among floors,
lot.
transverse wood joists supported
two
longitudinal fire walls
along
the lot lines;
line
of support,
wall
at
"built"
one
typically
Variation
positioned
organizational
intermediate
stud
2/3 of the span,
divides
the
zone
longitudinal
two
defines
does
not
ceiling
heights
vary
depending on the location
in
this
basic
scheme of the lot
often
result from:
(i)
Different
positioning
of
the
staircases
(ii)
parts.
On
but
of the living room in the orginal house.
by
wood
into
upper floors,
the exteriot walls on those floors.
The structural system consists typically
of
to
Removal of front stoops to allow
direct access to basement floors
the
first
floor,
this
a narrow service sector
line
and
(iii)
a
Different
natural
wider living sector.
wall
2 7
attitudes
lighting from the
toward
back
Plan of the Back Bay House
Generally speaking, every dwelling,
in
addition
quarters,
to
sleeping
has
four
and
main
the family need a study.
(iii)
service
rooms
for
Reception room, always
daytime activity.
(i)
to
served
entertaining
as a
and
place
as
a
music
to
because
Bostonian
(iv)
was important not
the
was
only
prominent
expected
to
entrance,
in
receive
intimate
Library:
Library
main
adjacent
those
be
place
less
terms with the family.
The
dining room
was as
larger
and
formal as the meals
served
it,
and no informal
room were provided.
28
on
of
Dining Room:
in
well read but because the man of
persons
was
days
rigid social decorum as a
for
room.
(ii)
the
required
Parlor:
Parlor
Reception Room:
eating
Basic Form:
The
long,
row house is represented by
narrow
stories
high,
walls
and
,
narrow
structure three to
squeezed
open for
five
between
windows
a
party
at
its
front and rear ends.
Depending upon the lot width, three
basic
plans
for the row house
can
be
distiguished:
(i)
(ii)
Type I for the narrow house
Type
II
for a lot
of
width
(iii)
29
Type III for a wide lot
medium
Type I
*
It
allows for two rooms
on
each
floor, one front and one back, and
it
is
usually
arranged
on
six
levels.
*
Library and parlor are
the second floor.
placed
1. Reception Room
on
2. Dining Roomom
3.Drawing Room al
These two large
rooms connected by the stair
4. Library
H. Hall
V
P. Pantry
C. Closet
V. Vestibule
hall
u
E!
TYPE I
open up to form a larger space for
entertaining.
*
This
model
has
always
two
bedroom floors:
(i)
*
The lower contains two large
bedrooms,
not carry
one front and one
and
back.
(ii)
The
upper
level may or
*
may
not be subdivided to form two
small
The main staircase frequently does
bedrooms
across
Only
above the second
hardly
the
*
front or back.
The
main
placed fairly
30
ever above the third.
service
through from
level
stairs
basement
stair
to
is
back in the
run
attic.
always
house.
This allows for a room of generous
depth on the
second floor at
the
front of the house.
*
It
provides
also
for
a
deep
entrance hall on the first
containing
two
sets
doors connected by a
well
*
as
The
an
ceiling
main
floor
of
double
vestibule as
outside
height for
porch.
the
floors vary between 12
two
feet
and 14 feet.
*
A
as
rear
that
light
*
If
the
admit
entrance
omitted
ell
is
would
from
included,
eliminate outside
the
house is
both
never
back
too
narrow
reception
hall,
the
rooms.
room
former
and entry opens
and
is
directly
into a spacious reception hall.
31
to
Type II
*
Type II
houses are usually
stories
in height
three
basement
plus
1. Reception Room
2. Dining Room
3. Drawing Room
H. Hall
4. Library
P. Pantry
C. Closet
V. Vestibule
and attic.
*
lot
Each
permit
one
is
enough
wide
room
side
a
plus
to
hall.
*
In
II,
both Type I and Type
middle of the house is given
the
over
to stairs, closets, toilets, and a
TYPE U a
without
room
This
category
*
subidivided
can be
Type Ha is two rooms deep.
Library
*
and parlor on the
placed
is
on
the
ell
is
added
never
rooms
three
to
deep.
Type IIc is two rooms in depth but has a
rear ell.
Type IIb is three rooms deep.
*
This second classification has the
great
An
houses
second
floor.
*
library
The
windows.
outside
second floor.
into three groups.
*
TYPE Uc
TYPE R b
light well.
disadvantage
of
a
The
library
second floor.
middle
32
is
placed
on
the
Type III
*
Type III
permits
greater
variation in plan.
*
It
has
a
rooms
center
place
in
hall
with
the
four
corners.
*
All
principal
first
floor,
rooms are
on
bedrooms
on
the
the
second floor.
*
Disposition
floor
is
the
second
determined
number
could
of
of
be
main
placed
by
rooms
on
the
the
that
first
floor.
*
Because
a
rooms
are
floor,
there
rear el.
greater
number
located
is
Type III
on
no
need
houses
of
each
for
usually
no
stories
plus basement and attic.
more
than
1. Reception Room
2. Dining Room
3. Drawing Room
H. Hall
4. Library
C. Closet
P. Pantry
V. Vestibule
are
three
33
TYPE UL
The
Service Spaces
attic
servants'
In
houses,
Bay
never
less than
the
the
attic
room
kitchen is placed
in
middle portion of the basement
a
which
pantries, storage
water closet for
the
one
room
condition
drainage
in
the
Back
was
Bay,
arrangement of rooms.
The lowest basement level
servants,
by law
Grade 12,
allowed
which is :
*
Five feet below the street level.
with appended drying room and a
*
Three
front of the
large coal bin.
out
Sometimes
are
a
the
laundry
three.
is fitted as a sewing
prevailed
affected
and a furnace room.
At
small
of which there
peculiar
The
is devoted to stairs,
into
with wardrokes and shelves.
the back yard.
closets,
bedrooms
the large majority of Back
rear of the basement where it opens onto
The
is divided
under
the
occasionally
house
is
Often this bin extends
front
steps
for
coal
deliveries.
The
window
small
and covered by some kind of metal
15
feet above low tide,
impossible
of
front basement rooms
are
as
bin
these
the
average
There are records of tides as
a small outside door under
front steps open into the coal
above
level of high tide.
and
the
feet
so it
to place the dining room
high
was
or
any main room in the basement.
always
This
main
grill.
problem also expains why
entrace in the early day was never
situated in the basement.
34
the
Envelop
Street Facade
Similar
built zone,
to
variable depth of
the
The
its height is not regulated
dimensionally,
for
except
range allowed by zoning,
the
the
height
this is
Back
Bay
traditional
three
of
basic facade configuration
house is composed
tripartite
system
as
a
with
regular distribution of openings.
to five floors above basement.
Most
contain
both
Back
Bay
houses,
no more than five
technical
and
however,
floors,
comfort
A bay window is frequently added as
for
an appendage.
reasons.
These result in height between 48 to
Similar appendages, such
as dormers and balconies also affect the
75
facade configuration.
feet.
35
Tripartite System:
organization
The
facade
is
the
of
typical
its
obtained by subdividing
cap
primary plane into three parts:
*
A rusticated "base",
extending up
body
to the first floor line.
*
A "body"
extending from the
base
up to the cornice line.
A "cap" extending from the cornice
line
at least a few feet
many
cases
it
is
formed
up;
by
base
in
a
lived-in Mansard roof.
3 6
Bay Window
The figuration of the bay window is
by
governed
the
deed
original
(i)
out
of
main objective for
the
primary
surfacce
of
First,
(iii)
the
allowing more varied and
Second,
multiplying
with
shape,
less
Back Bay area;
the
house;
(ii)
Triangular
encounted
even light penetration into
shape
middle
section wider than two ends;
projecting
facade is twofold:
(i)
Sem-Circular shape;
(ii) Tripartite
reasons.
The
geometries
of these concave shaped windows:
well as by functional
as
restrictions,
There are three generic
the angles
of view into the street.
37
which
frequently
is
in
Entrances
The
entrance to the Back Bay
town
Because
house customarily includes the following
architectural
architectural features:
Back
*
Front steps
*
A
Bay
forms.
projecting
porch
or
recessed
of
the
styles in
entrances
Although
they
district,
in
are
of
various
generally
designed as graceful arched openings set
above
*
The doorway
placed at street level,
*
An accompanying complex of masonry
a
ornament,
columns
and
the
occur
vestibule
ironwork,
diversity
wood
panelling.
a low basement,
monumental
or
porch
a
entrances may be
and may include
of
massive
ornately carved door jambs.
38
freestanding
portal
with
Front Steps
The
front
are
house
town
brownstone,
steps of the
Back
of
constructed
sandstone,
Bay
limestone,
or
granite.
The front steps were low, often not
more than six risers.
because
much
This was possible
the basement level could be
as five feet below the street
as
and
there were no major basement rooms which
demanded excessively high ceilings.
Occasionally
approaching
the
the outside staircase
porch
is
recessed,
especially in the small dwelling
the
cross
streets where the
facing
house
is
place next to the sidewalk.
39
40
Garden Fences
The
Bay
front gardens of the Back
Residential District are enclosed by the
following different arrangement:
(i)
Simple six inches curbs
(ii)
Study brownstone fences
(iii)
Masonry curbs ornamented with an
iron work fence of two to
three
feet in height
(iv)
Iron fences erected in the early
twentieth
height
century
with
the
varying between five and
seven feet.
In the last case,
always
added
a front gate
in order to separate
is
the
doorway from the sidewalk.
41
Front Yards
small
The
streets
long
Residential
gardens that
and
line
the
of
the
avenues
integral
an
are
District
part of the Back Bay landscaping scheme.
The
condition
and
these
of
design
gardens have a significant effect on the
appearance
property
them
of the area as a whole,
general
Although
uniform
different
Back
to
substantially
enhancement
of
the
Bay gardens
in design and
the
District.
are
dimension,
kinds of landscape
are suitable.
42
maintain
owners who plant and
contribute
and
fairly
many
treatment
Identification of the Original rules
43
02
02
Tissue Level
01
B
03
B
e...e..
..........
..................
.............
----
....................... --.....
eeee..........
0.....
=................
......
............................................
e...-=
e.ee....
.....................................
ee...........ee.e.........es..
...................................
01
B
03
B
e.........e...........eee...
.....
e .ee.
o.........................
......
............................
..
....
......................................
.....................................................
- ...............................
..............
------------------.............
.......................................
............
.............................................................
.................
....................................
........
....................................
- -- -------
..................................
: ..............
........................
.........................
.............
..............
.............
..........................................
.... .. ..........................................
................
.........
.........
..........
......................
..............
..................
....................
............
.......
. .. .. . .
. .. . .. . .. . .
....
. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. ... . .. .. .. . .. .. ..
... . ...................
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .
.................... ....................
.. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .
.............
. ...................................
..........
... .. . . . ....................
..........................
.....................
.....................................
...
o ...................
......
.....................
...................................
01
01
lB
Primary St
ny
Built Zone
Parking Lot
......
Thematic and
Non-Thematic Elements
Max
03 Alley
44
Larger Structure
Built
access for
indirect light
Corner Lots
The
cornor
location
sides
lot,
by virtue
of
its
has
two
its perimeter exposed to
the
at the end of a row,
of
street, compared with only one such side
in the case of the mid-block lot.
This
exposure provides ample opportunity for:
(i)
Natural lighting
the
flexibility
and
increases
of
internal
organization.
(ii)
Visiblity of the corner building
from the street.
Thus,
although
some
non-typical
buildings occur in mid-blocks,
majority
the great
of "non-thematic" morphologies
occur at the corners of blocks.
45
Lot Level
Lot Height
Most
Bay Window
Back
Bay houses
Sidewalk
contain
no
five floors which result
in
CFront Property Line
more
than
C)
a)
IL
height between 48 to 75 feet.
0
0
No Projection Other Than
Cornice Allowed in Front
of This Line
to
a)
C
a)
0.
0
E
0
0
U-L
Yo Total Width of Lot
or a Maximum of 18 Feet
Property Lines
46
kitchen.
Interior Organization
*
Four
main rooms such
as
parlor,
*
library, reception room and dining
room
are
needed
for
Main
*
daytime
rooms are
situated
the
functions of the dining
kitchen
are
room
well
No informal eating
first or second floor and never in
is provided in
the kitchen.
*
Reception room is always
adjacent
Living
room
ceiling
*
height
Bedrooms
are
always
on
Principal staircase is located
in
the middle of the house.
is
Only
service stairs
run
through
from basement to attic.
*
the
Basement
is
devoted
to
service
spaces.
upper floor of the main rooms.
*
in
distinguished.
greater than that of other floors.
*
often placed
the
on
to the main entrance.
*
The
and
the basement.
*
is
rear of the basement.
activity.
*
Kitchen
*
Dining room is usually adjacent to
Attic
is divided
into
servants'
bedrooms or service rooms.
47
Part Two
48
Issues Analysis
The
been
Back Bay residential area
undergoing a lot of change due
forces
various
original
like
dwelling
functions,
conversion
to
changes in life
houses,
has
of
into offices for professional people.
This
and
conversion
resulted
in
(i) Condominium Type
single existing
A
structure
subdivided into apartments,
changes during the design process. These
belonging to one household.
issues
take
into
are described in
analysis.
formulated
account
*
these
to
the
following
*
Finally, new constraints are
as
principles
for
design
Changes in Function
*
Victorian
common
A number of individual houses are
under one owner
--
eg.
schools, dormitories.. .etc.
different from that of the present day.
single-family
and
Public Type
combined
houses were built for a way of life very
large,
space
open
each
all its residents.
(ii)
It is evident that these
The
is
circulation sectors are shared by
guidelines.
The
two
basic modes of ownership:
would thus seem necessary for a
designer
into
apartments or rooming houses, or divided
new technical possiblity.
It
gradually converted
to
different
style,
were
*
town
This pattern has been discouraged
in recent years.
49
Conversion
of
secondary
tradesmen entered the kitchen from
to regular
apartment
the
(i) Conversion
residences
Although,
Since the town house was originally
used only during the winter,
occupied
no special
were needed for the
No
porches
or
living
balconies
on
the
with
for
No loggias at the top of the house
take
advantage
of
Neither
was
utilize
the backyard as a
any effort
or open living quarter.
this
rear
bricks,
a
now
it
is
all the later physical
upgrading
backyard,
extension,
become
almost
impossible.
An
area
was
(ii) Conversion
made
Generally,
are
Instead,
yard
through
of
will
be
dwelling
to
converted
when the lower
into hsops,
floor and basement are
with
and it functioned only as
service
pattern
commercial uses.
to
garden
paved
improved
suggested in Part Two.
summer
breezes across the Back Bay.
*
are
during the whole year,
enviromental
lower
levels.
to
houses
Especially in the case of the
outdoor
*
these
difficult to modify the original design.
hot
months.
*
seldom was this
area planted with even a tree.
buildings.
accommodations
back alley;
which
50
space
such
as entrance
will
also
be
levels
only
first
affected.
Open
modified
and
in
frontyard
order
to
accommodate
see
many
Newbury
the new function.
this
kind
of
We
examples
can
in
street.
51
New Technical Possibility
(i)
Elevator
Originally
become
there were no elevators
in the houses of Back Bay.
houses
Fortunately,
single
structure
was
subdivided
apartments,
each
belonging
so
to
common
(ii)
into
later
owners
in the earlier houses
the
a common elevator
often
New Drainage System
The main entrance and living spaces
one
can be placed in the basement since
If the building contains more
stories,
for
provided accessible elevator shafts.
existing
household.
three
its
light wells and banks of interior closet
With the demise of the large family
the
for
desirous of installing an elevator,
elevators
regardless of its height.
residences,
convinient
residents.
Only costly
built after 1895 have
very
than
improvement of the sewer system in
will
nineteenth
52
centry.
the
late
New Constraints
Common Sector:
space and common
Open
sectors
circulation
are shared by the residents
provided for each lot.
of
Built:
the building.
*
be
Open Space:
*
The
entrance can be situated
at
*
The Backyard functions as
parking
Each
located
house
has its
own
parking
of
apartment
an
as
house
elevator
should
which
close as possible
is
to
the staircase.
space adjacent to the dwelling.
*
Every
possess
space.
*
located in the middle part
the house.
basement level.
*
Common vertical circulation should
*
Sufficient parking space should be
Common
passage between
frontyard
and backyard is necessary.
5 3
Private Sector:
The single structure is
subdivided
basement.
into different private unites.
*
Equal
spatial
quality
*
for
Surface
*
Buildings are occupied during
*
the
*
in
plan in
order
*
and life-style.
Living
The
dining
room
can
be
eit her
The kitchen can also be located in
An
informal eating space
can
be
situated in the kitchen.
to
accommodate different family sizes
*
of
the middle of the floor plan.
Each house should provide possible
variations
priority
living room.
whole year.
*
has
independent or incorperated in the
per unit is more critical
than in the original design.
*
space
southern exposure.
each
unit.
*
Living
Each floor should provide at le ast
one bathroom when possible.
space can be placed in the
54
Design Study for Alternative Solutions
55
T:a
PASEMENT
Xa
FIMT
56
IA
58toN9, THIAP
I.
FOUATI
5 7
IA
FIFTH
Xb
BASEMt4DT
Lb FIAST
58
Xb
6ECOND ,THIAD
Xb FOULTh ei)
59
lb FOuP.TH ib
rC
PASEMENT
MC FIRST
60
Me
oncomiD , THe&D
Ic
FOLLRTH
61
Ic
yIFTi
Id
BASEMENT
Id
FIRST
62
Id
SECOND, THIltp
14
F04ATH
63
Id
FIFTH
Ia BASEMENT
X&
FI4T
64
aE SECOND, THIAS
RA
1COND,
Ip APA FOuATH
65
I [A
FIFTH
lb
BASEMENT
Nb
FIftST
66
E b SECOND, THIeP
X
b
FOURTH
67
Xb
FIFTH
'm9
Z
BASEMENT
68
POT
k
;E=
SECOND
X
69
THIAD
Design Study for Support Structure
70
Space and Function Analysis
3
32
32'
32'
32'
7
/
32'
/
92'
80'
68'
56'
4'
'
G
5d
4'
'
32'
32'
III
32
44'
444'
44'
56'
44'
68'
44D
80'
44'
44"
E
71
4'/
3'
32'
56'
44'
7'
6'-8
5'
8'
80'
68'
92'
5'
56'
56'
56'
56'
56'
56'
EZl
F32'1
56'
44'
80'
68'
92'
6'/
68'
68'
68'
68'
68'
68'
EZIIM
72
3'
32'
6'
5'
4'/
56'
44'
8'
7'
80'
68'
92'
7'
80'
80'
80'
80'
80'
DI
73
80'
32s
56'
44'
7'
6'
45'
8'
80'
68'
4'
44'
44.
44'
44'
44'
5
32'
56'
56'
44'
56'
56'
80'
68'
56'
56'9
74
92'
560
3'
7'
5'
4'
8'
92'
80-'
68'
6'
68'
68'
68'
68'
68'
68'
00
00
O00
75
L
L3
56'
44'
32'
8'
7',
6'6
5'
4'
3'
92'
80'
68'
7'
80'r
Bodf
80'
80'0
80'
80'
LZLZ00
L00
0 0
0 0
00
I
76
0 0
00I'l
00
00
8'
LI0IHI
El
C=
101
ILill
01
Do
LII
LII
~ITi12EI1l
77
LII
I
ill
11 '
loID
rr
m-
- -- -
12/
78
[loZl
L0
E~D
130
~zIz
neaLI
s
1LM
DhIJL
E~D
79
9'/
10'
11'
80
12'
E
FO-1
" ro
10
]0
13'
Edil
81
mC=C=J
5 L~i
D:
a
E1I
13
8'
Di
iL
19'
o;i
Ll
,1k
7
10'/
-rT-
82
Modular Coordination
83
Wall Positioning
I or2
I I
I1
9M
1
iM
:K
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414
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84
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Position
of
Spaces
in
the
Zone
(i)
General purpose spaces:
Living room
(ii)
GGNGRAL
P&P. sFAC
Special purpose spaces:
Bedrooms,
kitchens,
SERVI
5PACES
Service spaces:
Bathrooms,
storage
O
SPECIALPURP. SPACES
dining
rooms, and studies.
(iii)
I
MODEL-
Distribution
0
0
rooms,
staircases, and elevator.
MODSL 1i
,
iii
GENERAL
PRP.SPACES
SPECIAL
86
O
PURP.SPACES
0
SEKvICE
SPACES
0
0
0
I
Alternative Position
1
of Staircase and Elevator
4 16'
za
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IC
1d
II
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6316'
4
31&
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bt FULL M-PiOOMv
Diagram of Basic Variations
88
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90
hi.
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Sector Analysis
o( /1
o(Id
91
0
A4
.r4
.4
14
Parking Alternatives
The
present
parking situation
of
Back Bay:
Private
parking is located in
the
backyard with access from the alley.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
93
Disadvantages:
Parking in the set back zone
*
Advantages:
*
Backyard
playing
*
can be
area
or
fully
used
private
*
for
be
playing
arranged
area
as
or
building frontage
at
street
becomes
spaces.
Inflexibility
parking
of
the
use
land
for
basement and first floor.
green.
*
Public space between backyards can
also
Entire
Insufficient
number
of
parking
spaces per lot.
children's
*
pedestrian
Interruption
of parking
lane
on
the street.
promenade.
27
L...
94
Parking
under the building with
prevalent
access
the
sum
total
from the street
become
Advantages:
pedestrian experience.
*
Individual
*
Direct access to the building.
parking
*
spaces.
*
entrance takes
Garage
part
In
of
this
the
building
situation,
the
of
number
urban
parking
Difficult to convert
basement and
first floor for commerical use.
major
*
frontage.
which
Insufficient
the
of
spaces per lot.
Disadvantages:
*
garages
throughout the city,
Interruption of parking
the street.
is
95
lane
on
Disadvantages:
Parking under the buildings concentrated
*
in lots
Indirect
acess
to
the
building
units.
*
Advantages:
*
Garage
part
*
entrance occupies a
of
the
building
small
Continuity of
the street
parking
lane will be partially interrupted
*
frontage.
Backyards can be fully used.
Inflexibility of land use for
basement.
e
7
0
ellL--4
0
Et.
96
the
Parking
under the building with
*Individual
access
lot.
from the backyard
Disadvantages:
Advantages:
*
Building
parking spaces in each
frontyard
will
not
*
be
entrance
occupies
part of the backyard.
disturbed by garage entrance.
0
cD-
Garage
U
97
major
Parking
under the buildings with access
*
from alley
Advantages:
Flexibility
access to each residential
unit.
*
*
Direct
Sufficient
number
of
parking
spaces per lot.
of
land
use
in
*
frontage.
*
Continuity of street parking lane.
*
Indoor garage is provided.
Backyard can be fully used.
Disadvantages:
*
A small
used
1~~
98
as
part of backyard will
common
be
garage entrance.
Block Type
This function model represents Back
type
tissue
Bay's
in
middle
the
of
nineteenth centry.
Several
main characterisfic can be
identified:
(i)
Primary streets run in the eastwest direction, each acting as a
the
for
space
collective
majority
of front entrances
adjacent
blocks.
in
spatial
The
street
enclosure of the primary
is defined by the combined width
of
and
the public distribution zone
its two
zones,
flanking
set-back
and by the height of the
street wall.
The distribution zone contains a
40-foot
wide street
for
horse
cars and two 12 feet sidewalks.
99
(ii)
The distribution zone contains a
run
streets
Secondary
36-foot
orthogonally to primary streets,
alleys
to backyards in
adjacent
blocks.
enclosure
of
street
is
different
from
primary
primary
the
significantly
of
the
Because
set-
that
exist
only
along
the width
of
street-space
is
streets,
secondary
secondary
the
street.
zones
back
their
spatial
The
street
flanking sidewalks.
through
access
providing
each
wide
much smaller.
100
and
two
In this function model most of
residential
rear
of
parking is situated in
the building and
between
the
the
the
backyards.
*
Public
parking
residential
and part
parking
and
along the main streets.
101
of
the
located
fully
In this function model, part of the
pedestrian
area.
*
The
pedestrian
street
therefore
have a greater width.
*
The
street
middle section of the
remains
is
free from cars and
a
pedestrian area.
*
This
pedestrian
area
can
be
arranged as:
*
(i)
Playing area
(ii)
Public green
The
south-north
street
can
car
circulation
since there are no parking lanes.
parking
street is used as a
used for
be
102
This
building
function
provides
model
blocks in combination with the
separated
circulation
for
cars
and
pedestrians.
*
Public
parking is
along
located
side the vehicular streets.
*
Secondary
enlarged
sufficient
streets
in
order
space
should
be
to
provide
for
public
parking.
103
Irregular Lot Forms
0L
o)
:
AcADE WIPT"4
PAVIus
104
I
____________________________________________
ot I1it
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ein
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4'
16'
8$
4'
of,
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4:
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41
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-
105
(3
£~'
.',1
4:
Final Remarks
Having
Following the work presented
gone through the process or
working with the SAR Methodology, I have
the
begun to fully realize the importance of
could be studied with the same approach.
such
a
design.
system and its implications
Besides
capable
It
in
of being applied
in
a
it is
structure at the level of
yet
some
I intend to elaborate
addressed.
upon
issues of the actual
collective
at
the level of
individual
I hope this thesis will
contribute
control.
In this present research, technical
been
district
the framework which establishes
variations
architectural details have not
two
system
control, and the infill which allows for
different
contexts.
and
Bay tripartite facade
can be organized into
levels:
allowing for a certain
range of variation of built form,
Back
here,
ideas to any designer who needs to
intervene
construction
Bay.
in the future.
106
in
the context of
the
Back
Bibliography
Bunting, Bainbridge.
Houses of Boston's Back Bay.
Harvard University
Press,1976.
Mumford, Lewis.
Back Bay Boston: the City as a Work of Art.
Museum
of Fine Arts, Boston, 1969.
Back Bay Architectural Commission.
Back Bay Resident District.
Boston Redevelopment Authority.
Boston Historic Conservation Committee.
Marlborough Street/Back Bay.
Boston Redevelopment Authority, 1962.
Boston Society of Architects.
Boston Architecture. The
MIT
Press, 1970.
Barton - Aschman Associates.
Back Bay Boston, A Plan for
Circulations and Parking Improvements.
and Redevelopment Corporation, 1967.
107
Back Bay Planning
Kevin H. White, Mayor.
Boston.
Lamb, William.
Historic Presservation Guidelines, City of
Housing Improvement Program, 1977.
Back Bay Architectural District:
Guidelines.
Business Sector
Boston Redevelopment Authority, 1977.
Adems, Howard and Oppermann.
Back Bay Development Plan.
Adams,
Howard and Oppermann Planning Consultants, 1967.
Sela, Michael.
Boston's Back Bay, the Urban Framework and its Visual
Organization.
Thesis, MIT, 1978.
Habraken, N. John.
Transformation of the Site.
Habraken, N. John.
Variations:
Awater Press, 1982.
the Systematic Design of Supports.
The Laboratory of Architecture and Planning at MIT, 1976.
SAR '73.
SAR Method of the Development of Urban Environments, 1973.
Hill, R. Thomas.
Understanding and Transforming What's There.
Thesis, MIT, 1982.
Callender, John Hancock.
Design Data.
Time - Saver Standards for Architectural
1982.
108