[1] The Alexander Foster House is located in Somerville's central Spring Hill neighborhood, at the northeast corner of Laurel and Greene Streets.

Building corners have paneled pilasters, and a single-story polygonal bay projects on the north side.

The west-facing front facade is sheltered by a single-story porch, supported by round columns with bracketed tops, the brackets forming arched openings by meeting between the columns.

Its layout is based on the Italian villa concept popularized by architect Andrew Jackson Downing in published pattern books.

Many of the other period houses in the vicinity have been significantly altered or torn down; this one retains most of its original features.