Mather House

Welcome to Mather: An Eco-Brutalist’s Dream

It has been observed many times before that Mather has a unique brutalist charm to its structure. However, this sentiment doesn’t truly encapsulate the Mather aesthetic. Too frequently overlooked is the earthy side of Mather. With trees and plants galore furnishing Mather’s lush courtyard, and the abundance of greenery that adorns the inside hall, as well as the sustainability tutor housed within, “eco-brutalism” is a much more accurate description of this iconic concrete jungle.

With Mather’s mascots being a lion and a gorilla (yes, two!), this lush landscape is sure to provide all the amenities any animal could possibly need (okay, no more metaphors). Apart from the basic amenities like the library, common rooms, and a nicely-sized gym, Mather is teeming with hidden gems around every corner. For one, the Junior Common Room is a much-loved party spot on campus, featuring a signed picture of notable Mather alum, Conan O’Brien ’85. Looking to add cardio to your workout? Feel free to check out the aerobics room. Looking to find inner peace after that midterm? The tranquillity room is the place to be. Looking to unleash some creative energy and make your own common room decorations? Go no further than the art room, in-house ceramics, and wood-working studios.

The plethora of spaces that provide residents with an outlet for creativity has cultivated a community proud of students’ endeavors. You can find students’ artistic creations, including titles, murals, ceramic pieces, and woodwork, placed throughout the house. Further, if you’re less inclined to physical creations, you can take a stab at the auditory arts in one of Mather’s numerous music practice rooms, which are perfect places for practicing all of Ravyn Lenae’s discography before Yardfest (or you know, practicing an instrument, too, if you’re into that).

You Mather!

For all those keen on socializing, Mather has got you covered. This tight-knit community is brimming with Mather pride! With Happy Hours every other week — a place where you can sing along to your favorite karaoke songs in the multicultural room with pizza, drinks, and live music — and Monday pset nights with sweet treats to indulge in while studying, the never-ending lineup of activities always keeps things fresh in the house. Perfect for all you Google Calendar-obsessed rising sophomores.

More specialized events occur, too, such as the all too well-known or perhaps slightly infamous Mather Lather. Picture this: Mather’s dining hall completely emptied of all its chairs and tables. Wooden planks cover the walls, along with plastic sheeting to create something akin to a bullpen, with bubble machines releasing foamy bubbles over the participants as disco lights illuminate the space and a DJ keeps the beat going. Who needs a rave when you have Mather Lather? Word of advice: wear goggles.

But what about group activities, you ask? Don’t let the IM ranks fool you; the HoCo Co-Chairs, Thomas E. Scheetz ’28 and Lily Xu ’28, have reason to believe that Mather will come out on top this year. Move aside, Katniss Everdeen. There’s a new victor in town.

The Concrete Cottage

Now onto what is on every freshman’s mind. The dorms! In Mather Proper, you can say goodbye to your days of shoebox doubles and say hello to a life of lovely singles. “One highlight of living in Mather is that, like, you’re essentially guaranteed a single, so if you prefer living more independently, it’s definitely a big plus,” said Eric Xu ’28, a Mather resident.

With the average sophomore year setup consisting of a two-story duplex, you’ll have your common room, an en-suite bathroom (with two showers, three sinks and two toilets), and a closet area that somewhat rivals Hannah Montana’s. On the other floor of the duplex, you’ll typically have all of the bedrooms, which you and your four to five roommates can choose among yourselves. If the Housing Gods really like you, and your group manages to snag one of the coveted corner suites, you’ll even have an extra storage room. Although you still might be sharing a bathroom with another suite, just be grateful that it’s not with the entire floor (cough cough certain freshman halls).

As for the actual dorm rooms themselves, you get the standard setup of a desk, a bookshelf, and a bed. You’ll also have tons of natural light (to fight off the winter scaries) and, if you’re lucky, you might have your own scenic view of the Charles River glistening in the morning light. Heck, that might even inspire you to finally give into the Boston running propaganda. Didn’t get that room? Never fear, Mather’s dining hall provides you with that view and more, through its large glass windows.

Never-ending Matherite Funnnn

If you’re still on the fence about Mather, first off, why? And second off, you definitely won’t be after reading this Q&A with Scheetz and Xu. In fact, you’ll be well on your way to belting concrete jungle wet dream tomato atop your 19-story home. Demure King Kong style.

What is your favorite House memory?

TES: My favorite memory at Mather is from one of our happy hours. And we got a line dance going, and I learned how to line dance.

What do you think is the biggest misconception about Mather that you would like to get straight?

LX: A straight up misconception is that it’s too far away. It’s not, in my opinion — Dunster is literally right next to Mather. And also, we have the Mather Express.

If you could change one thing about Mather, what would it be?

TES: I would change the Mather library. We should probably get a few more tables to make it more conducive for working. But that’s my one issue.

Lowkey, if the library is the only thing worth changing, I can see why their slogan is “It’s a Good House.” Let’s be honest, we’re hardly in the library anyway these days #lockedout.

If Mather was a person, what appearance and personality would they have?

TES: It would be somebody in the Harvard architecture society, and they’re like an environmentalist. They have a very specific sense of style that makes them seem alternative, but they’re like, actually very cool.

LX: Very authentic I would say. I don’t know why, in my head, they like environmental policy. They love caring for people.

Anything else you would like to mention?

LX: It’s a good house, and we have the best community, in my opinion. We would love everyone to love Mather, just like we love Mather.

Need to know more about the real estate market? Read the rest of the feature here!