In Boston’s Historic District a Minimalist Gem Breaks the Mold

Hacin + Associates, an architecture and design studio in Boston’s South End, have completed a duplex, Four51 PH, for a couple and their extended family that’s both modern and formal.

The most striking and central feature is the double-height atrium, in which a custom light “curtain” installation hangs over and illuminates a singular outstanding staircase made of steel and glass. The light installation was designed in collaboration with Studio1Thousand and provides a linear, visual continuity along the stairwell connecting the two floors.

Located in Boston’s Back Bay, the penthouse strives for a distinctive simplicity – a way to stand out without sticking out from the historic context of the neighborhood. Black steel windows frame the home’s street view and the brickwork of neighboring buildings. For a better view, you can also step onto the multiple terraces that achieve 360-degree skyline views.

Inside the house, the interiors were outfitted with furniture and lighting from North and Central American makers, as well as geometric charcoal paintings by Blaise Rosenthal and monochromatic landscapes formed with smoke by Sheila Gallagher.

Photos by Bob O’Connor.