© Stefan Hagen Photography Brochure image printed with permission of the Acorn Deck House Company, Acton MA
conducive for mass production. As far as we know, however, this house is the only one of its kind. “Our house was renovated by two families before us, so it’s an interesting hybrid,” explains Holly. “The original footprint was expanded on in the 1980s, adding a lower level. In 2000, the couple we bought the house from renovated the main level creating an open concept living space.” “One of our favorite design elements is the visible infrastructure,” adds Jim. “Bayard built the house so the steel support beams can be seen in every room. In the 2000 renovation, the homeowners installed HVAC in the same spirit, running the ducts visibly through the space.” Both artists, the couple’s desire for a studio was realized in 2008. The studio space evolved along the lines of the original house and captures the original design intent to marry structure with plan and relate indoor and outdoor spaces. This addition beautifully accomplishes the goal of adding space to work from home, a popular need for today. About four miles away on a street that is home to the largest collection of Deck Houses in Concord, two other homeowners
1976 Deck House Company brochure shows classic elements including iconic roofline, deep overhang, and vertical siding.
recognize the intrinsic value of their home. In the 1960s, Deck Houses were sold as factory-built kits to be assembled on site. The post-and-beam structure allows for ribbons of windows, flexible floor plans, and central fireplaces. Most Deck Houses are carefully sited such that views of trees and rocks of New England resonate with the carefully sourced interior woods and stones. Rob and Louisa Paushter have worked hard to balance modernizing their Deck House for today with carefully preserving enough of the original character. Over the years, they have updated the furnace, chimney, and roof and have added skylights in the kitchen, bathroom and front hall to bring in light. They also brought the deck railing up to code. Cosmetic changes have
been basic: refinishing the floors upstairs and installing cork downstairs, updating the kitchen countertops, and replacing some windows and the front door. “We are about to completely redo the upstairs bathroom,” says Louisa. “And the best thing we did was to install central AC.” Despite having to take on some expensive updates, the Paushters continue to appreciate the things that made them want to live in a Deck House. “We loved the huge windows and the way they bring the outdoors in,” says Louisa. “We loved the natural feel of all the wood. We have been here for almost 19 years.” As for preserving the character of their home, she adds, “We have not painted any wood. We have minimal window coverings. Rob’s mother was an interior designer in the ‘50s and ‘60s, and we have inherited a lot of her furniture which fits in perfectly.” Deck Houses embody the same values of the Modern architect-designed one-off houses: flexibility, connection to nature, and open floor plans, all of which are still important today. One of the lessons of the houses of this time period is that architecture can be made to serve its inhabitants instead of existing to serve itself or honor its creator. Our Concord history is in these houses as much as it is in our more famously historic homes. ———————————————————————— Eve Isenberg is a registered Architect in the State of Massachusetts and a Principal of the women-owned InkStone Architects LLC, Concord. Visit www.inkstonearchitects.com for more information. Eve is also happy to be a Deck House homeowner in Concord. Holly Harrison is a visual artist living and working in Concord, MA. She is represented by Abigail Ogilvy Gallery in Boston and Edgewater Gallery in VT. Her work can be seen at www.holly-harrison.com or follow her on instagram at @hollyharrisonart.
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