From The Observation Tower
This house is an architect's design for a great, dramatic curve with a lighthouse-like tower in the center.
From The Observation Tower, The Anchorage, Seal Harbor, Maine ca. 1941 Wallace Harrison, Architect.
This spectacular modernist house was designed by architect Wallace Harrison for Nelson Rockefeller and built on a dramatic ledge near Bar Harbor. Harrison was involved in the design of many large scale and well known modern buildings such as the United Nations, Lincoln Center and even Rockefeller Center. Harrison was used to thinking big, not only in size but also in concept. This house is an example of that thinking and is primarily a great, dramatic curve with a lighthouse-like tower in the center. At the top of the tower this small circular observation deck offers sweeping views of the shoreline and ocean. Since this was the first modern house I had the opportunity to photograph, it was an important experience for me and expanded my awareness of architectural styles. Even though it stands out as a rarity in Maine’s largely traditional architectural heritage, it seems appropriate to include this as one of Maine’s great houses.
Click here for two more views of this project.
Fine Homebuilding Recommended Products
Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
The New Carbon Architecture: Building to Cool the Climate
Musings of an Energy Nerd: Toward an Energy-Efficient Home
All New Kitchen Ideas that Work
Design Credit: Wallace Harrison, Architect
