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Colman, Devin A.

Historic Preservation Program

2006

M.S.

Surveys of Vermont's architectural heritage typically focus on structures of the late eighteenth, nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. While the state has a strong inventory of buildings from each of these eras, there are also excellent examples of mid-twentieth century architecture throughout the region. Vermont's modernist architecture, however, has yet to reach the same level of appreciation and recognition as the Greek Revival, Federal or Victorian styles. In 2006 many modernist houses are already fifty years old or older, and the importance of identifying and protecting these structures is a pressing issue for those working in the field of historic preservation. The population of Chittenden County nearly quadrupled between 1900 and 2000, with the largest growth occuring in the City of Burlington and the surrounding region. While many traditional houses were built during this period, there was also demand locally for modern, efficient houses of innovative design. Built from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s, the height of modernist architecture and design in America, many of these residences have already been lost to demolition or extensive remodeling. The modernist style is at a crossroads in Chittenden County: old enough to be seen as outdated, but not old enough to be considered historic.
This project begins the process of inventorying and identifying modernist residential architecture in Chittenden County specifically, what was built, who was building it, who was buying it and its condition in 2006. With an understanding of what remains and what has been lost, it will be possible to formulate a preservation plan for the remaining structures. Approximately eighty-five unique modernist houses were identified in Chittenden County, from simple camps on Lake Champlain to bold International style houses. The most common alterations include replacing flat roofs with pitched roofs, building large additions and remodeling original designs to look more traditional, and the use of materials such as vinyl siding and replacement windows that are not consistent with the underlying design. A few houses stand out as examples of restored modernist structures, proving that these buildings can be brought back to life in the same way that a ramshackle old Queen Anne can become a grand "painted lady" once again. Continued research of modernist residential architecture in Chittenden County and throughout Vermont is essential to the survival of these buildings and their eventual appreciation alongside more established historic styles.