The Thompson House at Six Moon Hill
Lexington, Massachusetts

In 1947, the young founding partners of The Architects Collaborative (TAC) purchased 20 acres of rural farmland in Lexington, Massachusetts, to create a new community inspired by the utopian principles of their post-war peers.

This home was originally designed by TAC partner Benjamin Thompson in 1949. Using a concept quite unusual at the time, the two-story structure was constructed as a large volume supported by steel columns, with an open mezzanine housing bathrooms at each end. The first floor, which contained the primary living spaces, was minimally subdivided with walls or sliding fabric screens. Instead of defined bedrooms, the mezzanine was periodically rearranged by the children using portable beds, armoires, bookshelves, and large plants.

Thompson later left TAC to start his own architectural firm and co-founded Design Research (DR), a retailer of imported modern furniture and furnishings. In the early 1960s, he added bedroom walls to the mezzanine and designed a one-story addition featuring a more rustic, flat-roofed post-and-beam structure-perhaps influenced by the contemporary buildings he encountered in Finland during his buying trips for DR.

TDG designed the renovations and addition with an emphasis on adapting the home to the needs of a new young family while preserving its original scale and central design principles. A thorough renovation included updates to the heating, plumbing, and electrical systems, as well as the replacement of many interior and exterior finishes, the addition of new insulation, and the installation of high-performance fenestration. The interior spaces were shaped using a composition of simple wooden wall planes, articulated by large areas of glass to accentuate views of the surrounding landscape from every functional area of the open plan. A new kitchen features custom wood cabinetry and an expansive connection to both the landscape and living areas. The added screened porch, terrace, and two-car garage are all nestled into the sloping site, with a covered connection to the main house.

Archival documents of the home, found at the MIT Museum, were consulted throughout the process.

Modernist house with a flat roof, white exterior walls, large rectangular windows, and a yellow front door, surrounded by tall trees and a grassy lawn.

Modern interior with an open wooden staircase, light wood flooring, a white brick central fireplace with a black chimney, wood-paneled walls, large windows, and mid-century modern furniture.

Modern interior with wood-paneled walls, light hardwood floors, a white brick fireplace, and a cozy corner with a cream armchair, colorful pillow, and a small black side table holding a drink.

Bright, modern living room with large floor-to-ceiling windows, mid-century modern furniture including a tufted beige sofa, black leather loveseat, wooden chairs, and a slatted bench, with colorful cushions and a central wooden coffee table. Lush gre

Bright, modern living and dining area with large windows, a tufted beige sofa with orange pillows, mid-century modern furniture, wood-paneled walls, a round dining table, and a kitchen with bar stools in the background.

Bright dining area with a round wooden table, four black leather chairs, large floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing lush greenery, a potted monstera plant, and wood-paneled walls with colorful artwork and a vase of red flowers

Modern kitchen with wood-paneled cabinets, black countertops, large windows providing natural light, a central island with three wooden bar stools with black seats, and stainless steel appliances.

Modern living room with wood-paneled walls, large floor-to-ceiling windows, a black leather tufted sofa, wooden chairs with woven seats, a beige sofa with orange pillows, a wooden coffee table with books and a vase, and a large black-and-white photog

Modern dining area with light wood floors, exposed wooden ceiling beams, a wooden dining table with black leather chairs, a white armchair with a colorful pillow, and a black side table. A bright yellow and blue artwork is displayed on a white panele

Modern house with white and black geometric structures, large windows, and surrounded by tall green trees and grass.

Modern house exterior at dusk with warm interior lighting, large windows, black vertical paneling, and a tree in front.

Builder: Stillwater Building & Renovation
Photography: Michael Lee

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