Gropius Residence, Lincoln, Massachusetts, 1938 c. 1938

Curator: This is Paul Davis’ photograph of the Gropius Residence, built in Lincoln, Massachusetts in 1938. What strikes you about it? Editor: It's so modern, even now! The flat roof and those ribbon windows… what did this style represent at the time? Curator: It represented a deliberate break from the past. Gropius, fleeing Nazi Germany, brought Bauhaus ideals of functionalism and social equity. The house became a statement, challenging traditional domestic architecture and class structures. Do you see how the exterior staircase disrupts notions of privacy and hierarchy? Editor: I do, now that you mention it! It’s like it's inviting everyone in. Curator: Exactly! It was meant to be a model for accessible, modern living, a visual argument for a new, more egalitarian society. Editor: So much more than just a house! Thank you. Curator: Indeed, architecture can be a powerful form of social commentary.