AN
EXEC
UTIVE
F 0 R
C 0 MM0 NWE A L T H
0 F
R E SI
DE NCE
D
T H E
M A S3
A C H U S E T T S
Submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Architecture
at the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology.
May, 1957.
Peter Albert Samton
Head of the Department
P -t
0r
6d
mlo
a
i
taa
dil'lop
27a McLean Street
Boston, Massachusetts
May 13, 1957
Pietro Belluschi, Dean
School of Architecture and City Planning
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Dear Dean Belluschi,
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of Bachelor of Architecture, I herewith submit
this thesis, entitled "An Executive Mansion for the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts."
Respectfully,
Peter A. Samton.
A c k n o w 1 e d g m e n t
I wish to express my gratitude to the off.ice of exGovernor Herter for the stimulation of this thesis,
and
particularly to the entire faculty of the School of Architecture for their criticism and suggestions,
my fellow students for their encouragement.
and finally to
T a b 1 e
o
C o n t e n t s
f
TITLE PAGE
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
ACKNOWLEDGIENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT
I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
The Problem
Government
Region
1
3
4
II. DESIGN CRITERIA
Formulation of a program
The Program
Site Selection
The Site
6
11
14
17
III. DESIGN SOLUTION
Concept
Site Solution
Architectural Solution
24
24
27
Conclusion
FOOTNOTES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
31
A b s t r a c t
This thesis deals with the design of a Governor's
Mansion for Massachusetts,
a building having both a func-
tional and symbolic role in society.
The program has been
developed around the dual obligations of the Governor.
The mansion must fulfill
both the desires of
a normal private life and a complete social one.
same time,
At the
the problem of officialdom in architecture and
that of site integration is
to be considered.
The solution is based upon the vertical separation
of the residential from the reception spaces.
Its site
location off Coimonwealth Avenue and the Public Garden was
found to be appropriate to its demands, and had an important
part in determining the final design.
It
was attempted to
express not only the dignity required of such a building,
but also the regional characteristics of Boston.
I
I n t r o d u o t i o n
a n d
B a c k g r o u n d
THE PROBLEM
"Why on earth doesn't Massachusetts have a Governor's
,Man sion?".
- Governor Herter
Farewell Address
December, 1956.
It was the voicing of the above statement along with my
intention to find both a client and site within the Boston
vicinity that the investigation of this thesis was begun.
After some consultation and a general analysis of this
rather unique problem, it was found to my surprise that not
one of the forty-eight states has ever considered the construction of a governor's home in the contemporary manner.
In fact, in a survey taken of nine states nearly equal in
size to Massachusetts, only two mansions were actually constructed as such, and the other seven, as in most states of
the Union, were inherited and are not now thought suitable
for their purpose.
fortunate if
It appears that Massachusetts would be
it were to be in a position to select a site
and construct an executive mansion in terms of logical use
and function rather than to be circumscribed by an inappropriate facility at an unsuitable location.
1
With this in mind and the cooperation of the Governor's
office, the formulation of a program and selection of a site,
became the major criteria for the development of a design:
a design that in the end must reflect as much as possible the
role as a symbolic element in society...the residence of the
Governor.,
A Governor... But No Home for Him
--
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-3THE GOVERNMENT
The effort of men to govern themselves has been a threecentury-old affair in this state.
The very first forms of
government were established by the Pilgrims even before they
landed at Plymouth.
Through a series of charters, the Mass-
achusetts colony existed as such until the Revolution.
Its
attempts to submit a constitution to the people were rejected
until, in 1780,
John Hancock was elected first
Governor and
Massachusetts became the last of the thirteen bolonies to
adopt a written constitution.
Massachusetts is today the only state in the Union still
governed under its
original constitution.
It
was the first
such document boldly to establish the principle of the separation of powers of the various branches of government.
Among its more important provisions were the right of the
Governor and Council or the legislature to require opinions
from justices of the Supreme Judicial Court; the removal of
judges by address; and the inapplicability of martial laws
to citizens,
except with the consent of the legislature.
2
While power has been increasingly centralized in the Chief
Executive and the state government, the constitution is still
the bulwark of individual freedom and rights.
Under the colonial charter, all governors save the
first were elected by the people for a one-year term.
the charter of William and Mary,
appointment by the Crown.
Under
the Governor was subject to
Only in 1917 was the Governor's
term changed from one year to two,
Today, the Governor is Commander-in-Chief of the state's
-4militia and naval forces.
With advice of the council he may
prorogue the House and Senate and appoint all judicial officers,
may appoint and remove state department heads,
and exercises
the power of pardon for every verdict except impeachment.
The Governor's council works in cooperation with, and checks
upon, him.
In
order to carry out the policies formulated by
the legislature,
there has developed and been placed under the
further supervision of the Governor,
ments.
a number of state depart-
The scope of these departments is ever widening and
completely distinct from such primary units as the Secretary
of State, the State Treasurer, and the Attorney General.
It
is
significant that the position of the Governor,
though perhaps not as powerful relatively as in
is
al-
colonial times,
nevertheless regarded today as the most important repres-
entative of the State to the nation and to the people.
THE REGION
The architectural heritage of Massachusetts is
enormous.
The Boston area is not only responsible for the earliest roots
of New England Architecture, and in effect the first American
Style,
but it
porary works.
rightfully claims some of the finest of contemIts architecture is perhaps most characteristic
not in the drama of its buildings, but in the refinement.
is
in
this area that such men as Charles Bulfinch,
ardson,
Charles McKim,
Stanford White,
It
H.H. Rich-
Ralph Adams Cram,
Charles
D, Maginmis, Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer, Alvar Aalto, and
the Saarinens, have done some of their best work.3 Along with
such an abundance of significant historic arthitecture there
is an overall uniformity of late Nineteenth and early Twentieth
-5Century residential design that forms the general atmosphere
predominant today.
The harmony of this anonymous architec-
ture molds the overall character from which Boston derives
its strength.
torians
Walter Kilham relates:
"Boston under the
became a handsome town in its own way.
Century architects have fifty years left
will make of it
before the century ends.
vic-
Its Twentieth
to show what they
May they do as-
well as their predecessors.
It is therefore with the greatest sense of awareness
and recognition of these fine regional characteristics that
the designer must step forth to attempt a further improvement of the architectural environment.
-6C r i t e r i a
D e s i g n
II
FORMULATION OF A PROGRAM
Through the various discussions with the client, the
present and former governors' office, and by issuing a questionnaire to the governors of the larger states, it was decided that the following criteria should serve as basis for
the program development.
Essentially, the life of the Governor is a two-sided one:
he has a great responsibility to the state as well as that to
his family and friends.
In effect, the mansion must perform
a marriage of these two lives, that the two could adequately
co-exist and complement one another.
is
to be first
To do this, the mansion
the residence of the Governor and his family,
and second a social reception centre for the state.
the major architectural problem:
This is
the design of a building
wherein an expression of the dichotomy of activities plays
the dominant role.
lized in
It
is
these two lives that must be rea-
the formulation of the program.
PUBLIC LIFE
When the Governor is elected by the people for a twoyear term of office, he becomes effectively the dominant
public figure in
the state.
His life is
frequently turned
into an open book and he must accept this as part of his
public obligation.
He can no longer be compared with any
business executive whose affairs are entirely private.
wife,
the First Lady,
His
plays a major role in setting forth an
example in taste, etiquette, and social and civil awareness
to the other women of the state.
She becomes receptionist at
most state affairs, she is the carrier of good will, the 'Esther
of biblical times,' whose power must not be underrated.
The public life
of the Governor can be sub-divided into a
political and a social one.
Although his social life is obviously
a continuance of his political life,
at times,
it
might best be
considered as separate--not because its purposes are different-but because the nature or manner in which it
is
carried out is
different.
The frequency with which the mansion would be used for
entertainment purposes would depenu oni the Governor and his
wife and to a certain degree on the location.
still at present, it is
In
the past,
and
the custom of the Governor to have large
state affairs held in restaurants and in hotels.
Much as the
facilities were perhaps adequate, the lack of a definite state
reception hall has often effected a rather insipid, commercial
flavor to the whole affair.
By having a distinct reception
hall for government functions,
the nature of the receptions
would have a certain constancy and as a result benefit the
reason for these functions.
It would have to be of such a
character that its use could be flexible enough for the variety
of receptions that would occur.
Among the major entertainment
purposes for which the mansion might be used are:
a. Open-house for the State Legislature involving about
300 people.
b. Dinners for the Supreme Judicial Court, legislative
committees, Governor's Council, State Administrative
Boards, etc. 20-50 people.
c. Receptions for civic groups.
300-400 people.
-8d. Receptions for out-of-town officials and groups.
There is
an infinite
variety of minor gatherings that
would occur from time to time, but the above constitute the
most important of those that would take place.
perhaps the most frequent of all.
Luncheons are
On the average, the Gov-
ernor participates in official luncheons up to two or theee
times a week, as well as evening meals at least once a week.
Again, the reasons are varied, but in general the number of
people is kept to communicable size.
groups occur in
the evenings,
Receptions for civit
and would vary in
frequency.
Because of the lack of a definite location for such receptions, and the 'thriftiness' of the present Governor, such
affairs are, at present, kept to a minimum; they average
about one a week.
states,
it
From the survey conducted in several other
was found that such receptions might be desirable
as often as three times a week,
in
the evenings,
or on weekends
when a garden might be of use.
It
sibility
in
was furthermore considered that there might be a posof occasionally having a specific open house,
manner to that of the White House in
Washington,
similar
where the
public might be conducted through the non-private areas of
the mansion.
This might be done by appointment and at times
when the public areas were not in
be advantageous
relics,
use.
In
this case,
it
might
to have permanent exhibit places of state
paintings,
and documents.
These would serve to sup-
plement the main spaces only, and act more as a decorative
element.
-9Realizing that the majority of his political affairs are
handled in the State House, there remain nevertheless several
official functions for which the mansion would be most suitable.
In general,
these functions would constitute an assortment of
meetings of cabinet, administrative, legislative, and judicial
groups.
Whereas a good many of these affairs,
as was previously
mentioned, are luncheons, a good number are general conferences
which could be held in the mansion proper.
The size of these
meetings varies.
They are usually of the type that are handled
at a large table,
but may often be such that a smaller area
would be desirable.
Frequently, this type of conference is
held with distinguished visitors, who at the same time might
be guests in the mansion.
PFRIVATE LIFE
The daily routine of the present Governor is
simple one.
He rises in
a rather
the morning, usually before eight,
has breakfast with his family,
and is
picked up by a chauffeur
(who keeps the limousine each evening at a separate garage where
it is properly serviced), and then drives to the State House.
Here he remains most of the day,
going out for occasional
meetings and luncheons, before he would return in the evening
for dinner and the evening's activity.
His out-of-town visits
are generally confined to locations within the state and are
less frequent than those of most politicians.
During the week-
ends, his work is conducted at his home within the confines of
his private study.
The use of a secretary would be very desir-
able, especially for writing invitations, receiving guests, and
-10acting as receptionist, in the absence of the Governor's wife.
Largeness seems to be the rule, rather than the exception, as
far as Governors' families in Massachusetts have been concerned.
age.
The present Governor has five children all of school
In such instances, it has again been the rule for these
children to go to boarding school and return home weekends.
Small children have always been infrequent and bachelor governors rare.
Nevertheless, a decision for a specific or even
average sized family might in the long run prove unwieldy, unless considerations of maximums are observed.
It would be well,
therefore, to design for play areas and general facilities for
children as well as the commonplace family rooms for adults.
It
is
considered proper etiquette for the Governor fre-
quently to invite visitng out-of-town dignitaries as guests
in
the mansion.
This is
and varies only in
currently the practise in
all states
the number of guests generally invited.
Such an official extension of hospitality is a great reflection
on the people and important public relations for the state.
The sojourn of these guests would in general last only a few
days during which personal conferences with the Governor would
inevitably take place.
Besides the political guests, there
may frequently be invited the more immediate personal friends
of the Governor as guests at his home.
These people would un-
doubtedly be treated as members of the family, whereas the
visiting political guests might be treated with somewhat more
formality.
In any case the main theme of the private life of the Governor is that of flexibility.
There must be, due to the cyclical
change of families using the mansion,
a great deal of flexibility
-11-
in
the quantitative use of rooms.
Adequate areas for large
families as well as pleasant scaled facilities for smaller
families must be a feature challenged by the designer.
There
must also be a flexibility within the secular change of the
immediate family.
Guests and children must be separable and
at the same time flexible enough so that changes within the
familial situation will not prove too awkward.
With this in
mind, it is the opinion of the author that the greatest possible flexibility that could be achieved,
would be through a
system of 'no man's rooms,' that is to say, rooms that would
be used for family members and a few guests, in the case of
larger families; and entirely as guest rooms,
small families.
in
the case of
This would then mean that larger families
would not be allowed as many guests as smaller families.
It's
the democratic way'
PRO GRAM
With these criteria in mind, the following program
evolved as most preferable for a Governor's Mansion in this
state.
1.
STATE FACILITIES
State Reception Hall
3,000 sq. ft.
A single space to be used by a maximum of 500
people. It should be lightly furnished, available as a dance hall, as well as a general reception area where conversation is the main activity. An outdoor reception area would be
desirable by the main reception space or entry,
either as a garden or as terraces.
State Dining Room
1,200 sq. ft.
Seating for a maximum of 40-50 people. This area
should double as a conference room for meetings
-12of the Governor and his cabinet, and legislative and administrative groups.
600 sq. ft.
Entrance Hall
To serve as
immediately
and also to
ences might
the official entry. It should
connect to the reception hall,
the Dining Hall where conferbe frequent.
Toilets and Facilities for Men and Women
800 sq. ft.
Coat Storage
200 sq. ft.
Front Office
400 sq. ft.
To be used by a secretary for reception purIt may double
poses and general information.
at times for use by the State Trooper.
2. FAIMILY FACILITIES
Governor's Suite
700 sq. ft.
Including dressing, storage,
facilities.
Governor's Stud
and Library
and bathroom
500 sq. ft.
This is mainly for his private use, although
guests might be invited in for consultation.
Family and Guest Suites
400-500 sq. ft.
These should also contain storage areas, beIt was
sides private dressing and bath rooms.
2
and
children
8
of
maximum
decided that a
guests would, in view of past and present situations, be quite adequate for any future families.
These rooms should vary in size, so that some
would be adequate for 2 people and others for one,
depending upon the desires of the family.
Private Dining Room
400 sq. ft.
This area would be in constant use for the
Governor's private meals with his family and
overnight guests.
-13Family Living Spaces
1,000 sq.
ft.
This should include conversation areas for private
entertainment as well as play space for children,
and a game room for adults and/or children.
Conference Room
300 sq. ft.
This is a room that could be used privately by
the guests and Governor for informal conferences.
It differs from the library in that its use would
be more flexible. It might effectively become the
family den with a TV and bar for entertainment purposes.
3.
UTILITIES
Kitchen
800 sq.
ft.
To serve both state and family functions. In
times of large public affairs, caterers would be
brought in and use the facilities.
Mechanical Equipment Room
400 sq. ft.
Air-conditioning and forced air heating must be
provided for.
Laundry
200 sq. ft.
Servants'
uarters
800 sq. ft.
Bedroom, bath, kitchen and living area for one
servant couple.
Storage
Garden storage, trunk, linen, kitchen,
niture storage must all be considered.
Wine Cellar
and fur-
150 sq. ft.
Private Garage (for two cars)
Parkinp
Facilities
Thirty cars must have parking spaces in times of
formal entertaining.
-14-0
SITE SELECTION
The following criteria were first considered in the sel-
ection of a site:
1. Accessibility - includes both the relation to the State
House and the availability of police and fire protection.
2. Environment - includes general suitability and freedom
from hazards and nuisances not only of the present
but also of potential surroundings.
3. Physical Attributes - includes topography, size of the
area, the type of the planting and the suitability of
the subsoil.
4. Utilities - includes availability of municipal steam
as well as municipal sewerage and water supply, etc.
5. Land Value - may be either cost of acquisition or, if
already owned, its value for other purposes.
Of these five characteristics, two (3.
Physical Attributes and
4. Utilities) are self-explanatory; the others need to be
clarified.
1. Accessibility:
This relates to specific elements of
the program which require that the residence be essentially a
semi-public building in which, in aculItion to the.Governor's
living quarters, there are areas for the recognized public
and official functions as well as overnight hospitality for
distinguished visitors.
This concept differs from what many
individuals think of in terms of their own homes,
and therefore
a secluded site which is often desirable for a private home
cannot meet this criterion.
for each of Massachusetts'
Up to now it
has been customary
governors to provide his own liv-
ing quarters, during his official tenure, suitable to his needs
and those of his family.
Were this all that the state intended
to provide, this could be done more satisfactorily on a temporary basis for each governor with considerable saving to the
-15taxpayer.
In Massachusetts, as the program is now formulated,
the executive residence will be a semi-public building in
which requirements for official functions dominate with the
consequent need for a site accessible in
terms of public use.
California and New York are recognizing the importance of
accessibility and have determined that the site should be
close to the State House.
It seems ideal in terms of accessibility for Massachusetts
to locate its governor's residence in proximity to the State
House and the downtown area and near good traffic arteries,
public transportation and parking facilities all readily available to officials, visitors and tourists, and to police and
fire protection.
2. Environment:
environment is
Of equal importance to accessibility,
more difficult to analyze.
elements both positive and negative.
It
consists of many
Environment is
a complex
of land zoning practice, traffic, population concentration,
and land occupancy that may result in hazards and nuisances
or may combine to produce a desirable atmosphere.
The zoning
of areas adjacent to any site under consideration as well as
the architectural design, age and function of adjacent buildings, comprise general suitability.
The zoning is
particularly
important; commercial zoning may include a gas station, an
office building, a super market, a restaurant, professional
offices or multiple dwellings.
In areas of large residences,
no longer suitable for a single family, the ownership and occupancy may change frequently,
with consequent changes in
maintenance and appearance of the buildings themselves.
the
Two
-16other factors in environment are:
freedom from nuisances.
freedom from hazards and
The chief hazards in the Boston area
relate to the traffic, vehicular or rail.
Nuisances arise
from many sources and some may be compensated for in the design
of the structure.
In a residential area, a school may be a
nuisance where there is not adequate space for the children
during their recess periods.
A church, too,
will gather crowds
at all hours during the week and create parking problems.
Other nuisances are noise, dirt, odors, unpleasant views, etc.
Of great importance also is the potential future of the
surroundings which may not be known with accuracy but again
will relate to all
the factors in the present environment and
which will depend on future zoning practices, population changes,
industrial expansion and other encroachments of mechanization.
The environment of the site for the residence should be free
from excessive noise, dirt and traffic and under the control
of favorable zoning not only in its immediate area but also
in the avenues of approach to the State House.
The most favor-
able site in terms of environment would be in the area adjoining
the Common because the hazards and nuisances would be minimized and the concern over an uncontrolled axis to the State
House would be eliminated.
5.
Land Value:
The initial
in different locations.
cost of a site may vary greatly
It would be unsound to acquire a low-
cost site only to be faced with inordinate expense for providing and controlling the essential factors of accessibility
and environment.
It would also be poor economy to use state-
owned or "free" property without full recognition of its
true
worth for other purposes.
It
was decided in
view of the above criteria to select
a site which best fulfills those items mentioned.
THE SITE:
LOCATION
After some deliberation
the selection of a site
ing on the Public Garden was made.
border-
Since it was virtually
impossible to find an appropriate vacant site
within the
vicinity of the State House, the area now occupied by the
Atlantic Monthly and the Ursuline Academy on Arlington Street
was chosen as most suitable.
The actual site
is
formed by
Commonwealth Avenue on the south, Arlington Street on the
east,,and Marlboro Street on the north.
alley, bisecting the block.
It would'include the
The dimensions are 140 feet from
the Adult Education Center to Arlington Street'by 280 feet
According to the zoning restrictions of this particular ward,
the set back restrictions of 35 feet must be observed on Commonweal th Avenue.
CHARAC TER
The present buildings occupying the site,
poor repair,
are yet rather substantial,
although in
and for this matter
the selection of this particular site might be questioned.
It
was felt, however, that neither the architectural character nor
the use of these particular buildings was such as to raise
great protest upon their removal.
The surrounding buildings
are, for themost part, typical 19th Century brownstone with
variations of the Mansard roof.
Their general appearance is
best described by the continuous rhythm down. both Marlboro
PART OF
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-23Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
The continuity of form is
further enhanced by a harmonious use of materials and a general adherence to a standard height of approximately sixty feet
above the street floor.
Only the Ritz-Carlton Hotel at the
corner of Newbury and Arlington Streets, and an apartment
block at the corner of Marlboro and Arlington differ from this
general pattern.
The Ritz-Carlton rises to approximately thir-
teen stories whereas the apartment house is about ten stories
high.
These are the only real exceptions in this vicinity.
The greatest asset to the site location is its direct view
upon and access to the Public Garden which today is considered
one of the most beautiful of its kind in the country.
much neglect as "the marsh at the bottom of the common"
After
it
'las
in 1859 turned into a public garden and enclosed by an iron
fence still
extant.
One wonders just why Arlington Street is
not treated with greater respect by the buildings that border
on it, especially insofar as it is now a rather important artery.
The pattern of circulation is
a clock-wise ring about the site.
of the one-way kind forming
The traffic on Marlboro Street
is rather light, that on Commonwealth Avenue going westward also
rather light, as compared with that in the other direction.
Arlington Street, however, especially during the morning and
afternoon rush has rather heavy traffic, being a major access
from Storrow Drive to the downtown area.
The width of the street
supplies general facility for this rush, and congestion is
therefore a rarity.
Nevertheless the noise this traffic pr6duces
must be taken into consideration in
the final solution.
With
these site advantages and limitations, the final solution must
effectively deal.
-24III
D e s i g n
S o 1 u t i o n
CONCEPT
It
was decided as the major consideration in view of
the design criteria, to separate entirely the private life
of the Governor from the public one.
Since the two lives
might of necessity be carried out simultaneously, this separation seems valid from a security standpoint as well as a
functional one.
Not only would it be a clearer expression of
the dichotomy that occurs,
but it
would enable a more com-
plete and refined existence within the bounds of this separation.
This basic approach- to the design could be handled in
either of two ways.
The separation of facilities might be
effected vertically or horizontally.
ation,
In a vertical separ-
the different floors would act as entities and the
division would be interrupted only through an elevator or
staircase system.
In a horizontal separation, the isolation
of the two lives would best be solved by the existence of
two distinct buildings or of a partitioned floor.
Predom-
inantly because of the site conditions, the necessity for an
urban expression and the desirability for a single unified
symbol representing the residence of the Chief Executive, the
decision to incorporate both lives within one building was
made.
SITE SOLUTION
Because of the nature and history of the immediate area
surrounding the site, integration of the building with the
environment either through harmony or through contrast be-
-25comes another major consideration.
On accepting the site as a suitable location, it became
obvious in time that the building might in effect reinstate
the importance of Arlington Street as a major axis, and periUp until now,
pheral avenue.
it has been treated much the
same as its sister streets running alphabetically down the
Backbay.
There is no reason why this street should be sim-
ilar to the others; besides bordering on the garden and serving as a major link to the downtown area it is supposed to
end the long axis of Commonwealth Avenue and the parallel
streets.
As a first
step towards this direction it
was decided
that both the importance of the mansion and the significance
of the site wald benefit if the building would face broadside
towards the garden and thus perpendicular to the axis of Commonwealth Avenue.
The restrictions of the site further jus-
tified the formation of a rather long building as opposed to
a squarish one.
In massing,
then,
the building would obviously
contrast to its surroundings, and this would perhaps be equally
justified inasmuch as it is a building of greater significance
as a symbol than adjacent ones.
Further, to clarify this type
of approach and to overcome the obvious limitations, the redirection of the central alley to form an 'island'
was effected.
of the site
This would then serve as both a service entrance
and for parking spaces for the guests of the Governor.
reasonable landscapingy,
this 'island'
With
might more strongly em-
phasize Arlington Street as ending the perpendicular axis.
It
was a consideration in
the preliminary analysis in
-26effect to reroute the end of Commonwealth Avenue in such a
fashion that the Governor's mansion would occupy the center
and the focus of the long vista up the avenue.
deliberation,
however,
might be desirable,
it
After some
was decided that although a focus
the location of the Governor's residence
in such a position was a bit too presumptuous and perhaps
outrageous from the taxpayers' standpoint.
Nevertheless,
the final design considers the necessity for the rearrangement
of the middle of the avenue to end more strongly the axis to
the garden.
The need for a private garden of urban scale for public
receptions produced somewhat a problem when considering the
design of a rather long building on a long site.
Inasmuch
as one large garden was a more favorable disposition than two
small ones,
it
became necessary to consider a long building,
assymetrically balanced on the site.
It became rather obvious
that by lining up the shorter end of the mansion with the
buildings on Commonwealth Avenue, a space large enough for a
garden on the Marlboro Street end would well situate the mansion,
so that it became a significant view from the automobile traffic
on both Arlington
Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
It
further-
more increased the distance between the higher apartment house
on Marlboro Street and the mansion itself.
The- garden, then,
because of its orientation, would catch the sun at the most
favorable time of day:
in the late afternoon.
Since the end of the mansion would line up with the other
buildings on the 'Avenue', interrupted only by a void, a need
to echo the rhythm of cornice height down the Avenue is reflected in
the height of the final design.
The approach toward
-27the aesthetic and functional requirements, although influenced
greatly by the site, has nevertheless adhered to the program
as formulated.
ARCHITECTURAL SOLUTION
The general concept guided both the interior and exterior
approach towards the design.
It was believed that both the
sequence and use of interior space,
as well as the expression
of the facade should give the honest impression of the change
of activities occuring within the building.
It was decided to consider this vertical separation of
privacy from formality through a creation of a penthouse area,
'built upon' the main reception area.
The two, distinct from
one another in function, would be unified through the structural
and aesthetic approach.
In so doing, it seemed that for the
desired long shape of the building the top two floors would
be devoted to the actual residence of the Governor and his
family, and the bottom two for the formal reception spaces.
There were several immediate advantages to such a scheme%
1. This enabled the invited public to gain direct access
into the building, and to use the sequence of spaces
on the bottom two floors in conjunction with the
garden.
2. By eliminating any obvious entrances to his living
quarters save an elevator, it more readily insured
the privacy of the personal life of the Governor.
3. By placing the living facilities well off the ground,
the obvious visual assets of the site, namely the
Public Garden and Common provided a most satisfactory
setting.
4. Because of the vertical distance from the street floor,
noises and nuisances as affecting the residence proper
would be somewhat reduced, as well as visual privacy
insured.
-28RECEPTION SPACES
To effect a flexible reception area, commodious to different sized gatherings, it was decided to attempt a solution
devoting one entire floor to both the dining area and the main
reception space.
The treatment of this floor, which is to be
one level above ground, was to be as one large hall, subdivided
into the different spaces by means of a mass and a void.
The
mass turned out to be the service core area for the building,
and the void,.., the main entry to the reception spaces.
considering this approach,
it
In
was the intent of the designer
to produce a floor as an entity analagous in a way to the deck
of a ship.
Since the very nature of receptions and informal
gatherings are suchthat conversation and walking are the main
activities, a peripheral system of circulation (from which a
view might be attained) encircles the main spaces.
The diff-
erentiation of the promenade area from the dining and reception
areas was best achieved through the use of the structural
frame of the building.
By puncturing the main hall with a
rhythmic system of columns, the separation of the two functens
was best defined.
The columns perform an important link be-
tween the exterior and interior of the mansion.
They are
exposed on the street floor and rise through the Reception
Hall to contain the roof of the mansion.
Because of the
necessity for rather large unmolested spaces on the reception level, a preliminary structural analysis showed that
by staggering the columns, they could be connected to one
another diagonally forming two horizontal reinforced concrete
beams; besides forming an interesting pattern on the underside of the promenade areas and entry, could support the
6 _Ogg*"_0
-loop",
upper two stories of the residence.
RESIDENTIAL SPACES
The dominant aspect, that of flexibility, once again
formed a basis for the design of the penthouse levels.
Be-
cause of the necessity for a large number of bedrooms and
the desirability for a unified residence, it was decided to
create general living spaces at the center of the building,
divided from the sleeping quarters by the bathroom-utility
cores.
For further identification and privacy,
floors of the residence were 'set'
the roof of the reception floor.
the two
on the platform that formed
This enabled the formation
of a continuous terrace garden encircling the residence and
at the same time,
providing a buffer zone between the immediate
environment and the living quarters.
of natural light permissable in
In this way the amount
the living and bedrooms was
maximized without visual intrusion upon the privacy of those
two areas.
It was found that the central living quarters
could act as the focus of the residence, not only through an
expansive use of glass to take in the view of the garden,
but also by the creation of a two-story high space tying in
the two floors of the residence.
The final expression of the mansion as an adequate
symbol to the official
executive residence of Massachusetts,
depended greatly upon the use of materials and general treatment of the exterior.
materials,
It
was at all times thought that the
besides reflecting the requirements for the pro-
gram, insofar as possible should be indigenous to Massachusetts.
The materials used in these adjacent somewhat older buildings
-30weighed heavily upon the final decision for the specifications.
It
was found that the stone and brick of the neighboring
buildings would be quite suitable in their application to
the mansion itself.
buildings,
On further examination of these adjacent
particularly those on nearby Beacon Street,
the
contrasting richness of the white wood trim versed against
the rather dark value of the stone construction gave an
appearance of elegance unmatched elsewhere.
It
was with
this in mind that the overall theme of the general appearance
of the building was first
formulated.
' The white plastered concrete frame of the structure would
contrast the use of sandstone and red brick as a filler construction.
Glass,
although used amply to afford as much
natural light as possible, would be supplemented by bronze
screening (adjustable so that light might be filtered in and
the ,view from the street mainly blocked when so desirable).
The floors would be of durable granite,
case,
and the central stair-
intended to rise into the main reception space as a
sculptural element, would be of metal constru tion, similar
in quality to the outside screen.
The use of murals, paint-
ings and sculptures would be dispersed throughout the main
floors of the building in
selected ppsitions,
generally
framed against the rough background of sandstone or brick.
The quality of light in the reception spaces would be
subdued and indirect,
illuminating the ceiling immediately
around each column.
It is, nevertheless, the dexterity with which the materials and details are handled that will in the end decide the
final success of the general concept.
This concludes the preliminary analysis.
It remain
for
the design to speak for itself, and eventually justify not
only the effect of the building upon the people as the official executive residence, but also the relation to its
physical and most historical environment.
4
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,~
.~
F o o t n o t e s
1. Unfortunately, the State Committee on cities has recently
drawn a bill providing for the acquisition of the ShirleyEustis House in Roxbury (an 'historical' building of a
rather dubious architecture) to be rebuilt on open land
at Jamaica Pond and act as the new Governor's Mansion.
It was this sort of approach that encouraged the author.
to accept this problem as a thesis.
2. Massachusetts,
A Guide to its Places and People.
3. Hitchcock, Henry Russell:
4. Kilham, Walter:
P.
57
A Guide to Boston Architecture
Boston After Bulfinch
P.
104
B i b 1 i o g r a p h y
An Embassy for the Union of South Africa
Master of Architecture
in Washington, DC.
thesis. September, 1956. M.I.T.
Beinhart, Julian:
Burchard, John Ely:
Symbolism in Architecture, The Decline of
The Monumental. Harper & Bros. New York
and London.
A History of Architecture on the ComLondon.
parative Method.
Fletcher, Sir Bannister:
Forbes, Allan:
Hitchcock,
Boston, England, and Boston, New England, 1630-1930
State Street Trust Co., Boston. 1930.
Henry Russell:
Kennedy, Robert Woods:
Kilham, Walter:
1955.
A Guide To Boston Architecture.
Rheinhold Publishing Corp.
New York. 1954
The House and the Art of its DeSign.
Rheinhold.
New York.
1953
Boston After Bulfinch:
An Account of its Architecture 1800-1900. Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge
1926
Massachusetts, A Guide to its Places and People.
Company.
Boston.
Houghton Mifflin