The George Kaplan House, erected in 1946, is an excellent and exceptionally well preserved example of the International Style in the Boston area. The home is located on a suburban road in Oak Hill, Newton, and displays characteristics such as strong geometric forms, a flat roof, banded windows interspersed with expanses of blank walls and absence of ornament. The Kaplan House was designed by Walter Gropius‘ firm ‘The Architect’s Collaborative’ (TAC) of Cambridge, which was founded just one year prior, and this home was their first completed project. The home was built for George and Ethel Kaplan, a young couple who moved here from Brookline. Kaplan worked in design himself and manufactured shoe fabrics.
Buildings of New England 
My understanding is that the architect of this house is Samuel Glazer who is also the architect of the previously reported on “Melnick House” – when he was with TAC. I have taken a special interest in this house which is near my home, the “Melnick House,” where I have lived since 1992.
I stumbled on your blog a couple of months ago, it is just terrific. Who are you?
Thank you.
David Nalven | Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP | Direct: (617) 475-1953
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I’m so glad you enjoy the blog! I am
unaware of the potential connections to Glaser and I did not know he worked at TAC. Interestingly, the house next door to this one on Drumlin Rd, was designed by Glaser just years after this one!
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According to MIT TAC archives, Walter Gropius is the designer of this house. He is listed as Partner in Charge and in “TAC’s vocabulary the partner in charge would have been the design/project lead.” Gropius’s architectural stamp is also on the permit drawings.
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Yes, everything that I have found shows this is a Gropius-designed house.
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