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Foto: Simone Hübener Foto: Matthias Bezler

Boston Public Library (21) 1888 von • by McKim, Mead and White District Hall (24) 2014 von • by Hacin + Associates

Foto: Nigel Young Foto: Matthias Bezle Foto: Dom Costa

Museum of Fine Arts (19) 2010 von • by Foster + Partners Institute of Contemporary Art (23) 2006 von • by Diller Scofidio + Renfro Liberty Hotel (26) 2007 von • by Cambridge Seven Associates

B oston can be excellently explored on foot or, recently, mented and Le Corbusier was able to convince with his Before setting out for lunch and a major part of the after-
also by bicycle. It is possible here to comfortably
idea of a building where one is able to experience free-
noon programme to the hip Seaport District, we take a
stroll through small pedestrian zones and, while doing so, dom and unlimited creativity. Right next to it are the look at Bates Hall, the time-honoured reading hall of the
discover architecture – historic as well as contemporary. Harvard Art Museums (10), also consisting of an old buil- Boston Public Library (21) from 1888. This is where we
ding with a brick façade and a new five-storey building by fortify ourselves with yet another cup of coffee in the
Saturday: MIT and Harvard Renzo Piano. Our next stop, the Harvard Science Center Maproom Café adjacent to the historic building’s inner
(11), is a building from 1972 designed according to plans by courtyard bordered by arcades.
9 a.m. – We start the day at the Pavement Coffee House Josep Lluís Sert and thus by the former dean of the 1.30 p.m. – Since, in Boston, the world makes its home
(1) in Newbury Street. The small café is situated in the Harvard Graduate School of Design. The Harvard when it comes to culinary delights as well, Italian cuisine
basement of a typical brownstone. These types of buil- Graduate Center (12), commissioned in 1948 as the first is today tasted in the Sportello (22) restaurant. Then we
dings also accompany us on our way to Harvard Bridge contemporary architecture on the campus, clearly bears are off to yet another museum, the Institute of
which leads us onto the campus of the elite MIT university the signature of Walter Gropius. At the time, he had been Contemporary Art (23) whose architecture, already due to
which was founded in 1861. We start with the Media Lab professor of architecture in Harvard. The architectural end its location in a former harbour area, is completely diffe-
(2) designed by Maki and Associates from Tokyo. The next of this first day of the weekend is the Smith Campus rent from what we have visited so far. The upper floors
building makes it immediately obvious who was respon- Center (13), known as the Holyoke Center. project towards the water, the outside staircase below is
sible for planning it: Frank Gehry. The Ray and Maria 6.30 p.m. – Just a few steps next to it is the Harvard sub- the perfect place for taking a break. In 2006, the first visi-
Stata Center (3) was completed in 2004 and attracts way station from which, after two stops, one reaches the tors were able to inspect the building designed by Diller
attention due to its colours and forms. A complete contrast Commonwealth Restaurant (14) with its own market. The Scofidio + Renfro. Much smaller but no less worth visiting
to this is the MIT Chapel (4), which opened in 1955 and Ames Boston (15) is recommended for spending the night. is the District Hall (24) opened in 2014 and designed by
was designed by Eero Saarinen, with its plain round main It was opened in 2009 by the Rockwell Group in the city’s Hacin + Associates. The pavilion building with a café,
building and a completely closed exterior wall. Baker first high-rise building. Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge desi- workspaces, workshops and an event area is an innovati-
House Dormitory (5) was designed by Alvar Aalto in 1946 gned the 14-storey office building in 1893. For those who ve centre which young creative minds can use free of char-
during the time when he was a professor at MIT. On the are still bursting with energy, I recommend a detour to the ge for working and establishing contacts. Before returning
other hand, Simmons Hall (6), which Steven Holl recently opened Haley.Henry Bar (16). to the centre, we once again enjoy the view of the water
Architects were commissioned to plan in 1999, does not from the outdoor area.
really look homely when seen from the outside. Sunday: Boston highlights 5 p.m. – Right in the centre of Boston is yet another buil-
1.30 p.m. – For lunch, we go to Brookline Lunch (7) ope- ding in Brutalism style which is worth seeing: Boston City
ned in 1937 where typical American food is being served. 9 a.m. – We start out in the Boston Back Bay, in the Flour Hall (25), completed in 1968 according to plans by
Afterwards, there is a choice of proceeding on foot, by ren- Bakery (17). Just a few steps next to it, the John Hancock Kallmann, McKinnell & Knowles 1968. That it is standing
tal bike or by the subway towards Harvard where the Tower (18) by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners rises. To reach in the same spot to this day is owed to a courageous citi-
country’s oldest university is located. Since Cambridge the next stop, the Museum of Fine Arts (19), you either zens’ initiative which prevented its demolition in 2006.
Public Library (8) is on the way, we visit the ensemble of walk down Huntington Avenue or take the subway to the For ending the day, we now go to the Liberty Hotel (26),
an building from 1889 and a building opened in 2009. stop of the same name. The Art of the Americas wing of a converted prison with a special atmosphere. In 2007, the
3 p.m. – No more than one building was constructed this museum was constructed between 2005 and 2010 architects from the Cambridge Seven Associates office tur-
according to plans by Le Corbusier in North America: the according to plans by Foster + Partners. We continue on to ned the building designed by Gridley James Fox Bryant in
Carpenter Center for Visual Arts (9) completed in 1963. the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (20), whose new 1851 into an elegant hotel with a spacious lobby, the Clink
As happened in other places, here as well the discussions building opened in 2012 was designed by Renzo Piano. restaurant and the inviting Liberty Bar. The perfect place
about modern architecture in a historic environment were Inside and outside here interlock in a very attractive way for reviewing the weekend over a good meal and freshly
inevitable. Fortunately, in the end the project was imple- and we take a little break in the highly frequented café. mixed drinks in the bar later.

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