It is against the spirit of America, home of the front porch, to snub one's neighbors architecturally, so the House of Ideas ingeniously avoids this solecism. At the same time, it proves that the blessings of modern home planning are not irrevocably wedded to flat roofs and clinical angularity. The occupants of this house can enjoy the flexibility of an open plan, take maximum advantage of the sun and the out-of-doors; yet the pitched roof, clapboard walls, and warm brick foundation, which were inspired by Illinois farmhouses, mingle diplomatically with the homes of more traditional-minded neighbors. So does the planting, designed to effectively screen out the surrounding lots. Yet because of its variety in height, it is not forbidding to the outside world. Only woody plants that require minimum care have been used-trees, flowering shrubs, and ground coverings-but they have been chosen with respect to texture, color, and seasonal behavior, so that the landscaping will be interesting all year. The front lawn of Merion bluegrass, easy to maintain, relatively weed-resistant, is the talk of the neighborhood.
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source: House and Garden Magazine | January 1953
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