Where is the screening held?

The event takes place at The Aldrich in Ridgefield, Connecticut; exact meeting point and ticketing details are provided by the host.

How long is the program?

The film runs about two hours and includes a moderated Q&A and a post-screening happy hour.

Can I buy tickets at the door?

Ticketing information is managed by the host; check the referral link for availability and purchase options before arrival.

Is the venue accessible?

Accessibility details were not provided in the listing; contact The Aldrich directly for specifics on wheelchair access and seating accommodations.

Is the happy hour included?

The listing notes a happy hour follows the screening; verify whether refreshments are included with your ticket via the host's booking page.

The Harvard 5: Film Screening & Happy Hour at The Aldrich, Ridgefield CT | History Tour

Q: Will there be a Q&A?

Yes. The screening includes a moderated Q&A with The Aldrich Executive Director Cybele Maylone, filmmaker Devon Chivvis, and Bruce Becker, creator and owner of Hotel Marcel.

The Aldrich in Ridgefield, Connecticut becomes a conversation chamber when The Harvard 5 arrives — a two-hour evening of archival cinema, personal recollections, and a lively post-film happy hour. The documentary traces five architects—Philip Johnson, John Johansen, Landis Gores, Eliot Noyes, and Marcel Breuer—whose post‑World War II experiments brought Bauhaus ideas to American suburbs and reshaped modern domestic architecture. Shot with rare footage and interviews, the film moves between crisp plans and the lived-in houses those plans produced.

In the auditorium you’ll notice the film’s focus on material and proportion: flat planes, glass walls, exposed steel and concrete—details that read like a field guide to mid‑century detail rather than a lecture. That focus makes the screening a practical primer for anyone interested in design, renovation, or architectural history: expect sequences highlighting iconic house sections, construction details, and interviews with family members and biographers who ground modernism in daily life.

The event runs about two hours and includes a moderated Q&A featuring The Aldrich Executive Director Cybele Maylone, filmmaker Devon Chivvis, and Bruce Becker, creator and owner of Hotel Marcel. A happy hour follows, creating space to compare notes with curators, designers, and fellow viewers. The setting in Ridgefield gives it a regional texture—this is local cultural programming that connects the Connecticut community with national design movements.

Why this screening stands out: the film stitches archival fragments with contemporary reflections, so you’ll see original slides, drawings, and never‑before‑seen film that reveal how these designers adapted European modernism to American materials and climates. The Harvard Five’s experiments—use of prefabrication, glass walls overlooking wooded lots, and crisp modernist plans—are shown not as abstract theory but as applied problem‑solving for postwar living.

Practical notes: arrival in Ridgefield is straightforward; exact meeting point and ticketing are provided by the host. Bring curiosity and comfortable shoes for exploring nearby galleries after the screening. This is a low‑impact, culture-forward outing that pairs visual education with social exchange—a good evening for architects, renovators, students, and anyone who appreciates how design shapes everyday life.

Whether you’re a practicing architect, a homeowner pondering a retrofit, or a traveler seeking a thoughtful cultural stop in southwestern Connecticut, The Harvard 5 at The Aldrich offers a concentrated, well‑curated look at modernism’s domestic turn and a rare chance to hear directly from the film’s makers and local stewards of design.

Arrive early to claim a seat and to catch pre-show displays of original drawings set near the lobby; these artifacts complement the film’s archival frames. The happy hour is an opportunity to meet local preservationists and designers—bring business cards if you’re pursuing a renovation. After the event, stroll Ridgefield’s main street to continue conversations over dinner or stop by local galleries that extend exhibition hours for opening nights.

About The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum

The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, Connecticut presents rotating contemporary art exhibitions and artist-centered programs.

The museum offers guided and self-guided experiences for a broad range of visitors, including General Admission visits, All Ages Discovery Tours, Story-Time for Kids, Seniors-Only Tours, and specialized programs such as Care and Connection for visitors with memory loss and their care partners. Visitors can attend artist conversations, performances, and public programs — examples include talks with artists Martin Beck and Elle Pérez, and performances by Sarah Hennies and Tristan Kasten-Krause connected to Zak Prekop’s Durations and its publication launch. The site includes a newly renovated Sculpture Garden that hosts outdoor events and provides a reflective setting for exhibitions and gatherings. Educational offerings extend to Educator Open House events that feature curator-led tours with Associate Curator Eduardo Alfonso, studio activities, networking opportunities, and resources for classroom engagement. The museum’s public programs also include seasonal offerings like Happy Hour Fridays, which combine late-night access, guided tours, and hands-on activities in The Studio while guests relax in the Sculpture Garden. The Aldrich supports family engagement through Story Time in partnership with the Ridgefield Library and regular Sunday Afternoon Tours led by education staff. As a focused contemporary art institution, the museum maintains an artist-centric approach to exhibitions, programs, and publications, prioritizing direct engagement with artists’ practices and thoughtful public interpretation. Hours, ticketing, and current exhibitions are available on the website.