"You might say that this year was the 'end of the beginning' for our project.
The Cape Cod Modern House Trust
was founded to collect, archive, and share documentation of the outer Cape's exceptional modern architecture, restore a group of important, endangered modern houses, and to relaunch them as platforms for new creative work.
We
completed the restorations of three modern houses
in collaboration with the Cape Cod National Seashore, and the houses now host our artist/scholar residency program and weekly summer stays by supporters. Through this mechanism we are now on a sustainable economic path.
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| Modern House during restoration |
Our book Cape Cod Modern Mid-century Architecture and Community on the Outer Cape, (Metropolis Books, 2014) by founding director Peter McMahon and journalist Christine Cipriani is now in its third printing in only two years, with over 10,000 copies in print.
Last year the book was awarded the 21st Annual Book Prize by Historic New England and has spread the story of the Cape's modern legacy far and wide.
This summer our exhibit The Children's Room, Art and Design of Wellfleet's Mid-Century Children's Books (at the Wellfleet Historical Society and Museum,
May 29-Oct. 17) celebrates the over 300 children's book produced by the local writers, designers and illustrators. The exhibit features over 100 books on loan from the Wellfleet library and original artwork exhibited for the first time.
The show is a collaboration with the Wellfleet Public Library and the Wellfleet Historical Society and Museum.
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| The Children's Room exhibit at the Wellfleet Historical Society and Museum |
This summer, along with our regular Sunday tours, we held a modern house tour on Martha's Vineyard. This included six little-known experimental houses in secluded spots surrounding Menemsha Pond.
Click here for tour photos
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| Martha's Vineyard Modern House Tour |
Recent lectures by Peter McMahon include The Museum of Fine Arts, (Boston) Pilgrim's Hall, (Plymouth MA.), Harvard's Graduate School of Design, ABX Architecture Boston Expo, and several local libraries.
The documentary film about Wellfleet's modern legacy,
Built on Narrow Land, made by our Board President Malachi Connolly, was screened in many venues including the Dreamland Theatre in Nantucket. Sponsored by the
Nantucket Preservation Trust.
Educational projects included a
semester-long collaboration with students from Harvard's Graduate School of Design. The class explored the creative re-use of old building for new purposes.
In the coming year
we plan to broaden our residency program, working with regional curators and engaging local students in art and architectural investigation and installations.
Happily we also have begun negotiations with the Cape Cod National Seashore to lease a fourth abandoned modern house with National Registry status."
Visit
their website and to find out
more information about their history and programs
Help support the restorations and artists/scholar residencies while enjoying the architecture and natural setting.
Current Exhibit
Cape Cod Modern House Trust:
The Children's Room, Art and Design of Wellfleet's Mid-Century Children's Books
Wellfleet Historical Society and Museum. May 29 - Oct. 17
A collaboration with the Wellfleet Public Library and the Wellfleet Historical Society and Museum, this exhibit explores the over 300 children's book produced by the local writers, designers and illustrators. The exhibit includes over 100 books on loan for the library and original artwork seen here for the first time.
Curated by Founding Dir. Peter McMahon
Past Events of the Cape Cod Modern House Trust:
Please Note: The Cape Cod Modern House Trust does many smaller informal tours all year for groups up to 10.
Tours:
For photos from the tour, go to:
Summer tours
Eight Sunday tours of the three CCMHT houses.
All tours sold out. Led by Milisa Moses.
July 23 Tour of a group of six extraordinary modern houses on Martha's Vineyard. The tour was sold out. Led by Founding Dir. Peter McMahon
Houses included:
1. Simonsen House, 1960, Eliot Noyes
2. Wisniewski House, 1961, Chester (Chet) Wisniewski
3. Brody House, 1962, Samuel M. Brody
4. Noyes House, 1956, Eliot Noyes
5. Preston House, 1969, Eliot Noyes
6. Straight House, 1964, David H. Condon. Sunken Garden,
1964, Dan Kiley
May 14. Tour of the three CCMHT houses for Professor Jorge Silvetti and 15 of his students from Harvard's Graduate School of Design.
Led by Founding Dir. Peter McMahon
March 19. Tour of three CCMHT house for Prof. Tai Carpenter, and 14 students from Brown Univ. Led by Founding Dir. Peter McMahon
Lectures
July 12. The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Cape Cod Architecture: Kindred Spirits. A lecture and book signing (of Cape Cod Modern) by Peter McMahon
July 13. Wellfleet Public Library
The Children's Room, Art and Design of Wellfleet's Mid-Century Children's Books
This event was part of the the Wellfleet Historical Society's 2016 lecture series.
A lecture and book signing by Peter McMahon
April 6. Pilgrim's Hall, Plymouth MA.
Talk and book signing by Peter McMahon
May 18. Open University of Wellfleet.
Preservation Hall, Wellfleet. Talk by Peter McMahon
Screening
June 13
. Talk and screening on Built on Narrow Land, the documentary about Wellfleet's modern legacy. Dreamland theatre Nantucket. Sponsored by the Nantucket Preservation Trust. Talk and book signing by Peter McMahon
Educational Collaborations
Spring Semester. A semester-long collaboration with Prof. Mark Mulligan and his class of 18 students from Harvard's Graduate School of Design. The class explored the creative re-use of old building for new purposes.
Lecture, tour, consultations and final review with Peter McMahon
Book
Cape Cod Modern Mid-century Architecture and Community on the Outer Cape, Metropolis Book, 2014. By Peter McMahon and Christine Cipriani.
Third printing out in early 2016. Over 10,000 copies in print.
Last year the book was awarded the 21st annual Book Prize by Historic New England.
