BEACON STREET TOWNHOUSE

Boston, MA

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES HISTORIC BACK BAY BUILDING RECONSTRUCTED WITH TAAP DESIGN  

Boston, October 6, 2014.  Tsomides Associates Architects/Planners of Newton, MA designed the Beacon Street townhouse in the manner of the 19th Century Victorian Second Empire Style Brownstone that was originally built in 1870 and demolished in 1951. Once the home of Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Professor at Harvard Medical School and internationally recognized poet, essayist and novelist, it was subsequently occupied by his son, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., Justice of the US Supreme Court.

On September 16, 2014, the Back Bay Architectural Commission, after a detailed design review process, approved the project and observed, “that the squat, minimally detailed existing 3-story 1951 building lacked the scale and ornamental character of the ---late nineteenth century houses more characteristic of the context”, and affirmed that the property appeared to be a candidate for demolition and redevelopment. 

The new building, which restores the historic character and streetscape of this block of Beacon Street located, consists of 10 rental units including a two-story penthouse apartment.