On the Market: An Andover Treasure Designed by a Bauhaus Architect

Created by Marcel Breuer, Brutalist elements dignify this midcentury home with built-in minimalism.


Photo courtesy of Rob Moreno Photography

83 Sunset Rock Road, Andover
Price: $899,900
Size: 3,721 square feet
Bedrooms: 3
Baths: 3

You might know modernist architect Marcel Breuer by his innovative Wassily chair, a pared back seat made up of a tubular steel frame and strips of canvas. Even if that’s your only point of reference, you’ll see plenty of overlap in this Andover residence he designed, which is highly functional, with clean lines and plenty of open space.

The brutalist style and the Bauhaus movement (Walter Gropius was his mentor, after all) heavily influenced Breuer’s style. The chunky bluestone fireplace is a unifying example of his approach to design: On one side, the stone structure serves as a fireplace to warm the living room, while on the other, it becomes part of the kitchen, acting as an indoor grill. Not only does the monolithic furnishing work double time, but from an energy-efficiency angle, it uses the same heat in two ways.

The kitchen is all about efficiency, too, with open cabinets, original hardwood countertops, and a wide galley-style layout that allows you to hop from sink to barbecue grill with ease. One of the home’s most impressive traits is that little has changed since its 1955 construction—even details like the bathroom tile-work and the radiant heated bluestone floors are authentic.

Amidst all that stone and wood, though, are huge sheets of glass in almost every room, opening a portal to the pergola, patio, and bright green backyard right outside. The front door is framed by semi-translucent panes, and the master bedroom features an entire wall of clear glass. “It’s hard to describe without seeing it,” the current homeowner says, “but it feels like you’re directly participating in nature and the seasons.”

For information, contact Jon Maren, The Maren Group, themarengroup.com.

Photo courtesy of Rob Moreno Photography

Photo courtesy of Rob Moreno Photography

Photo courtesy of Rob Moreno Photography

Photo courtesy of Rob Moreno Photography

Photo courtesy of Rob Moreno Photography

Photo courtesy of Rob Moreno Photography

Photo courtesy of Rob Moreno Photography

Photo courtesy of Rob Moreno Photography

Photo courtesy of Rob Moreno Photography

Photo courtesy of Rob Moreno Photography

Photo courtesy of Rob Moreno Photography

Photo courtesy of Rob Moreno Photography

The Boston Home team has curated a list of the best home design and home remodeling professionals in Boston, including architects, builders, kitchen and bath experts, lighting designers, and more. Get the help you need with FindIt/Boston's guide to home renovation pros.