Is There an Architectural Style for Boston to Proactively Market?
Posted on Aug. 23, 2022 / Marketing Strategy / Subscribe 0
AUTHOR: Ken Lambert Contact
Boston is known for many things across the country and across the world. The city (and nearby Cambridge) is a historic locale where tradition and preservation meet ongoing development and a vibrant 2022 economy.
Architecturally speaking, does Boston have a predominant “style”?
Forty or fifty years ago that was likely an easier question to answer, but today- not quite as simple.
In an effort to review which buildings in Boston are most popular/liked/noteworthy, I’ve reviewed a Summer 2018 article from Boston Magazine. The link can be found here:
https://www.bostonmagazine.com/property/2018/07/25/100-best-boston-buildings/
The article ranks the 100 “best” buildings in Boston, according to Boston Magazine. Lists like these are made for arguing. The #1 building, according to this list, is Boston City Hall. I’d consider that somewhat of an odd choice. I don’t meet many locals, or tourists, that “love” Boston City Hall and/or can’t wait to go visit it and take photos there.
Thus the ranking itself may be a bit off, but looking at the Top 100 buildings does relay some key information.
Out of the 100, 71% are masonry structures, many of which date back to the middle 1800’s or earlier - buildings such as the Old State House, Trinity Church, and the Old South Meeting House. These buildings often tell a story of what made this city, this state, and to some degree, this nation. These historic buildings are some of the places along the Freedom Trail, where national and international tourists walk and we see 7th graders from New England on school field trips.
But Boston is not solely relying on its history and its Gothic Revival, Neoclassical, and Spanish Renaissance architecture. From its concrete Brutalist buildings of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, to the sleek glass towers dotting the Seaport District (and elsewhere) over the past decade plus, the city showcases a myriad of relevant architectural types.
Some of these changes follow in line with the increasing building heights that have become sought after throughout the years by developers and associated owners. Many other changes are a result of improvements in newer and various building materials and engineering practices.
If you ask a tourist visiting Boston from Los Angeles, Florida, or Nebraska, they will likely say that Boston’s “style” is what they notice and generally what those places do not have: an abundance of attractive masonry buildings that are over 150 years old. However, if you ask an executive from WS Development or Related Beal you may get a different answer. Times change and design firms incorporate various trends that come and go.
The better and more important question for those in Greater Boston in the AEC field is: What will our (new) buildings primarily look like 5 or 10 years from now? Like many US cities, especially on the East Coast, Boston planners, developers, and architects are gradually changing the fabric of Boston architecture. But that work can be somewhat at odds with groups like the Boston Preservation Alliance and the Massachusetts Historical Commission. That said, it may be wise to design and construct some new buildings that have more of the older “feel” and aesthetic, to ensure that Boston does not become just another American city with a vanishing core identity. Several examples of such a design mentality exist within the city limits, including the Whitney Hotel project on Beacon Hill shown below. This 4-story brick building exhibits some attractive and contemporary exterior detailing which augment its two neighbors.
Whitney Hotel, designed by Hacin Architects
The choices we make today will determine what the “Top 100 Buildings” list will look like 20 years from now.
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