Mid-Century Modern Freak

Harold Esten House 1966 | Architect: Harold Esten | Mohican Hills, Bethesda, MD

The white brick and glass design with red doors and blue panels reflects the influences of Breuer and Mondrian. Esten is a former associate of Charles Goodman and lived in Goodman’s historic Hammond Wood district of 58 modern suburban homes. One of the most unique features of the flat-roof home is what Esten describes as a “lantern to illuminate the house.” The soaring glass and wood “lantern” sits over the library/conservatory.

Esten worked with modernist architect Charles Goodman for a few years before launching his own firm. In 1949, Esten and his wife Alice spent some time in California. On the weekends, they would spend time at the beach and observed the wave of modern architecture dotting the coast. “I looked at a lot of modern homes at a very critical time in modern architecture,” Esten told me. He said he met the likes of Charles Eames and Richard Neutra, who wanted to recruit him but said, “I can’t pay you.” Esten’s reply: “I can’t work for nothing.”

Source: moderncapitaldc.com | blog.vastudc.com