Born in Brookline, Massachusetts in 1926, Henry Cobb catapulted himself into the world of architecture at a young age. Through his work over 90+ years on this planet, he shaped the Boston skyline more than any other architect has. What was once an engineering disaster waiting to happen in the 1970s would go on to become a building loved by many. When there was a need for a new federal courthouse to be built in the Seaport, Cobb used a semi-circular and angled wall of windows to represent a "wave of justice" that was crashing over the city of Boston after it had experienced years of political corruption. When the Four Seasons Private Residences was near completion in 2019, Cobb did not miss a beat, telling reporters he was at the mid-point of his career from a design perspective. Below are a collection of images and graphics that highlight some of Cobb's most famous works in the city he loved.
HE SHAPED THE CITY HE LOVED
When designing the John Hancock Tower, Cobb knew that in a city full of old values and very resistant to change, it would be an enormous challenge to design a skyscraper in the heart of the city's downtown, and even more challenging was the fact that the site was located next to the historic Trinity Church. Cobb knew how important it was to honor the church's history, and even reflected upon that in his memoir. “The Hancock Tower is totally contingent on its adjacency to Trinity Church” (p.109).
HENRY N. COBB
April 8, 1926 - March 2, 2020