Above: Fred Noyes, Andrea Feick Attkiss, Amanda Martocchio and Debbie Propst. (Photo by Kyle Norton.)
From historic homes to present-day design, a group of New Canaan creatives carries forward the ideals first defined by the Harvard Five.
Modernism is having a big moment in New Canaan. The New Canaan Museum & Historical Society’s Modern House Tour and October4Design (a monthlong celebration of architecture, art and design) have been hugely successful. Along with the release of Devon Chivvis’s documentary Harvard 5: A Story of Love, Architecture, and a Design Revolution, these events are bringing renewed attention to a movement that has been part of the community’s fabric for decades.
Since the late 1940s, New Canaan has been known as the home to the Harvard Five architects and a hub for Midcentury Modern design on the East Coast. “These architects came here for different reasons, but they all shared a new, forward-thinking vision of architecture,” explains Nancy Geary, Executive Director of the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society. “Together, they had an enormous impact on shaping New Canaan’s landscape.”
Nancy Geary, Executive Director of the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society, and Kirsten Reoch, Executive Director of The Glass House. Photo by Kyle Norton.
But Modernism in New Canaan was never just about buildings—it reflected a new way of living, explains Kirsten Reoch, Executive Director of The Glass House. “The culture was changing, and everyone was thinking about progress. This was part of events that transformed the American lifestyle, not just architecture,” she says. “While there are different styles within the blanket term Modernism, a lot of it harkens back to this idea from the Bauhaus School: ‘form follows function’ and a paring back of non-essentials.”
Architects including Eliot Noyes, John Johansen, Philip Johnson, Landis Gores and Marcel Breuer designed houses with open layouts, natural light and a strong connection to the outdoors. “Overall, there was an idea of timeless simplicity, bringing your home back to the essentials as well as a visible connection with nature,” says Reoch.
One of the most well-known examples is Philip Johnson’s Glass House, built in 1949. Its open, minimalist design has inspired modern homes and design trends we see all around us today. Originally a weekend home for Johnson and his partner David Whitney, The Glass House expanded into a larger campus. More than just a house, it functions as a museum with global influence. “We are always changing exhibitions, adding performances and hosting visiting artists,” says Reoch. “The Glass House is still a living, breathing entity that is constantly changing.”
The iconic Glass House. (Photo by Robin Hill, Courtesy of The Glass House)
You don’t need to fully grasp the social and architectural implications of the modernist movement to feel its impact. It’s in houses that seem to blend into their surroundings or in open, light-filled spaces that simply feel natural to live in. As Geary emphasizes, “This is all part of something that is uniquely New Canaan, rooted in its design history, that creates a shared sense of place and an excitement about the future.”
“A whole world of architecture, furniture design and artists lived here in New Canaan simultaneously,” says Reoch. “It was a special time in history when geography, art and people came together, and everyone—especially those of us who live here—should know the history, enjoy it and protect it.”
The influence of this era isn’t frozen in time—it continues to inspire a new generation of architects and designers in New Canaan. Alongside Reoch and Geary, we highlight some of the individuals who are both safeguarding that legacy and reimagining it for today. Like the Harvard Five before them, they collaborate, support and challenge one another, collectively shaping Modernism in New Canaan as a living, evolving movement.
FRED NOYES
THE HEIR:
Architect, educator and son of Eliot Noyes. Carrying forward the legacy of the Harvard Five. (Photo by Kyle Norton)
Read our Q&A with Fred Noyes Here
AMANDA MARTOCCHIO
THE GUARDIAN:
Award-winning architect based in New Canaan. A leading voice advancing Modern architecture today. (Photo by Kyle Norton)
Read our Q&A with Amanda Martocchio Here
DEBBIE PROPST
THE CURATOR:
President of Global Retail for MillerKnoll. A cultural and institutional connector within the MCM community. (Photo by Kyle Norton)
Read our Q&A with Debbie Propst Here
CRAIG BASSAM & SCOTT FELLOWS
THE CRAFTSMEN:
Architect and creative director of Bassam Fellows. Integrating modernist design at home and at work. (Photo by Sam Interrante)
Read our Q&A with Bassam Fellows Here
ANDREA FEICK ATTKISS
THE SCION:
Senior Director of PR & Communications at Akris; preserving the MCM legacy where she was raised. (Photo by Kyle Norton)
