Sven and I like to wander around the five kettle ponds near our bed and breakfast, especially in fall. We often return to a secluded spot on Northeast Pond, where a particularly lovely modern structure rises above the pond, as if floating on air. This house was once the Kugel-Gips residence. We knew it now belonged to the National Seashore and that all such structures were slated to be demolished. It was, therefore, with a sense of relief that I read today in the Cape Cod Times that rescue for this one house, empty since 1998, is on the way.
The deck boards are rotted out, like the teeth of an elderly woman, the paint has chipped, mold is creeping through, so it is really time for a complete rejuvenation. The Kugel-Gips house will be lovingly restored by the nonprofit Cape Cod Modern House Trust of Wellfleet and used to study the Modernist structures here in town, created by architects influenced by German Bauhaus design. For information on the house and local architect Charlie Zehnder, father of our own Ben Zehnder, go here. It's possible to help out personally by making a donation. The Community Preservation Act has provided the first $100,000, but more money is needed. Save Wellfleet's history. Donate today!
