Editor’s Miscellany: Local Talent

By Kyle Hoepner

Next Wednesday, November 30, the New England Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA) will present its second annual Bulfinch Awards, honoring architects and designers from our six states whose work engages with the classical tradition in architecture and its associated fields.

The awards are named after Boston’s own Charles Bulfinch, one of the first professional architects to practice in the United States. And, in fact, next week’s awards ceremony will take place in one of Bulfinch’s best-known buildings, the Massachusetts State House.

The Massachusetts State House; photo by Eric Baetscher courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Other Bulfinch buildings that are likely familiar to New England residents include Boston’s Faneuil Hall and three Harrison Gray Otis houses, the Maine State House and the Old Connecticut State House. Less familiar may be the fact that Bulfinch served as the successor to Benjamin Henry Latrobe in work on the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C., including his design for its original low wooden dome (the present cast-iron dome was added in the 1850s).

The United States Capitol in an 1846 photograph by John Plumbe; courtesy of the Prints and Photographs division of the United States Library of Congress

Here’s a quick preview of this year’s Bulfinch Award winners, most of whom, I’m pleased to say, have been featured over the years in New England Home.

Grand Prize: Restoration of Waterbury City Hall by DeCarlo & Doll, Inc. of Meriden, Conn.

The restored City Hall in Waterbury, Connecticut; photo by Robert Benson

Best Urban Residence: Back Bay Townhouse by Dell Mitchell Architects of Boston. This house was featured in our January/February 2011 issue.

Architecture by Dell Mitchell Architects; interior design by Carolina Tress Balsbaugh of Manuel de Santaren, Inc.; photo by Michael Partenio. Click to see more.

Best Suburban Residence: Greek Revival Residence by Jan Gleysteen Architects, Inc. of Wellesley, Mass.

Photo by Sam Gray

Here’s a townhouse renovation by Jan Gleysteen that was featured in our March/April 2011 issue.

Architecture by Jan Gleysteen Architects; interior design by Anne Becker; photo by Laura Moss. Click to see more.

Landscape: Georgian Country Estate by Gregory Lombardi Design of Cambridge, Mass.

Photo by Rosemary Fletcher

Over the years we’ve featured many houses and apartments with landscape design by Gregory Lombardi; here’s just one example from May/June 2010.

Landscape design by Gregory Lombardi; photo by Sam Gray. Click to see more.

Interiors: Chestnut Hill Residence by Carter & Company Interior Design of Boston.

Photo by Eric Roth

A downtown Boston penthouse by Michael Carter was also on New England Home‘s cover back in 2006.

The September/October 2006 issue of New England Home; photo by Sam Gray

And–sneak preview time–we’ll be featuring another house by Carter & Company, this time a waterfront property on Lake Winnipesaukee, in 2012. Here’s a taster of what will be on view.

Interior design by Carter & Company, to be featured in a 2012 issue of New England Home; photo by John Gruen

In short, I’m proud of our local talent, and I hope you’ll consider joining in to help celebrate their achievements next Wednesday, November 30, 2011, from 6:00–9:00 p.m. Click here for more information and to register for the Bulfinch Awards event.