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Six Moon Hill, Massachusetts
A small neighborhood in Lexington, Massachusetts, on and around Moon Hill Road, with houses built from 1947 to 1953 and designed almost entirely by The Architects Collaborative, the firm founded with Walter Gropius. It was listed on the National Register in 2016.
The housesThe rulesBefore you buy
- built1947–1953land bought May 1947
- houses29plus one built in 2006
- architectsTACThe Architects Collaborative
- designation2016National Register
the houses
What makes them distinctive
- Low and butterfly roofsFlat, low-pitched or butterfly roofs with deep overhangs.
- Vertical wood sidingNarrow vertical matched boards of redwood or cypress.
- Glass to the southLarge areas of glass, mostly facing south or southeast.
- Built into the hillMany houses sit into the slope with exposed basements; upper floors often rest on round steel columns.
- Radiant floors and skylightsConcrete or slate floors with radiant heat, open plans around a hearth, and plastic bubble skylights.
- Shared landCommon land with a swimming pool and open space, and no fences between lots.
protection
Designation and the rules
- National Register, 2016Listed January 19, 2016 as the Six Moon Hill Historic District. National Register listing alone doesn’t restrict private owners. We found no local historic district.
- Design controlsThe original deed restrictions expired in 2002; most residents agreed to keep respecting the design controls voluntarily.
- Demolition delayIn January 2025 Lexington’s Historical Commission imposed a 21-month demolition delay on a Moon Hill Road house, so a teardown can take far longer than a permit alone.
before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Radiant heatA number of houses have had their original in-floor radiant heat replaced; find out what you’re buying.
- WindowsMany windows have been replaced with energy-efficient copies; check the rest.
- SkylightsThe original bubble skylights leaked before standard flashing methods were perfected.
- Slab and sidingAt one house, water had damaged the slab and wood siding badly enough that an engineer judged them beyond repair, though another contractor disagreed. Have both inspected.
- AdditionsNearly every house has one or more additions; ask what’s original.
From the National Register nomination and local reporting listed below. Architect names appear in more than one spelling in the sources (McMillen and McMillan).
sources
Where this comes from
Checked October 20, 2026.
- Lexington / MHC: Six Moon Hill Historic District, National Register nomination (2015)Houses, dates, features, design controls, condition notes.www.lexingtonma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3860/Sixmoonhill-PDF
- SAH Archipedia: Six Moon Hill (Keith N. Morgan)Radiant floors; TAC designs.archipediavm.upress.virginia.edu/buildings/MA-01-LX3
- Massachusetts Historical Commission press release (2015)Shared pool, picnic area and open space.www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/mhc/news-events/download/pressreleases/Lexington-Six-Moon-Hill-National-Register-27-Oct-15.pdf
- The Lexington Observer (January 17, 2025)Demolition delay and the condition dispute.lexobserver.org/2025/01/17/demolition-delay-imposed-for-six-moon-hill-house/
- National Park Service: National Register FAQNational Register listing places no restrictions on what a non-federal owner may do with their property.www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/faqs.htm
questions
Questions we hear
Who designed Six Moon Hill?
The Architects Collaborative (TAC), the firm founded with Walter Gropius, designed all but two of the original houses.
How many houses are there?
Twenty-nine mid-century houses built from 1947 to 1953, plus one built in 2006.
Are there rules about changing a house?
The deed restrictions expired in 2002, but most residents follow the design controls voluntarily, and the town can delay a demolition.
more to learn
Keep going
- Mid-century modern across the U.S.Every guide in the series, coast to coast.
- Mid-century modern homes in Silicon ValleyThe style at home: where it is, what to look for.
- Silicon Valley Eichler tractsEvery Silicon Valley Eichler tract we cover, with live listings.
- Builder FilesThe builders and architects behind Bay Area homes.
General information from the sources listed, checked October 20, 2026; not legal, preservation or construction advice. Confirm designation and permit rules with the local preservation office before you buy or remodel. The Boyenga Team represents buyers and sellers in Santa Clara County, bay-side San Mateo County and San Francisco.
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