A couple stumbled upon an unusual property near Rittenhouse Square. It was a first-floor condo unit in a two-story structure that originally included a carriage house.
While they loved the space, they knew with three college-aged kids, it wouldn’t be large enough for their family. Luckily, the owner of the second-floor unit was willing to sell.
Combining the two condos, we could entirely gut and renovate the space.
Now, the home is aesthetically beautiful, more modern, and aligns with the family’s functional needs.
The first-floor layout includes an attached garage, a gourmet kitchen with high-end appliances, a home office, gym space, and a large living area perfect for entertaining. Upstairs, 4 bedrooms were carefully designed to fit within the historic structure, including walk-in closets and luxurious bathrooms.
The massive vaulted-ceiling carriage barn was renovated by removing walls and adding skylights to open up the space and bring in natural light. To modernize, new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems were installed.
High-quality finishes, such as wide-plank hardwood floors, stone countertops, and custom millwork, provide elegant modern living.
Preserve your historical property’s character whenever possible.
The Philadelphia Historic Commission needed to approve any changes to the exterior of the townhouse, including painting the outside or making any other modifications visible from the street.
For properties with historic designation, the Commission must oversee the preservation and maintain the appropriate aesthetic character of the building to align with the surrounding neighborhood.
Working alongside a professional architect, you can breathe new life into a historic building and transform it into a functional, family-friendly home. Even if your home isn’t considered historically significant, you can still create a design that perfectly suits your unique lifestyle.
Contact Us – Krieger Architects if you want to unlock the full potential of a historic building. Let’s reimagine the space, blending its timeless charm with modern functionality to create a warm, welcoming family home.
FALLINGWATER
This is one of Wright’s most widely acclaimed works and best exemplifies his philosophy of organic architecture: the harmonious union of art and nature.
The Inspiration: The idea behind Fallingwater emerged from Wright’s philosophy of organic architecture: the harmonious union of art and nature. Wright wanted the owners, the Kaufmanns, “to live with the waterfall….as an integral part of [their] lives.”
The Construction: Building Fallingwater was no small task. Fallingwater was constructed of sandstone quarried on the property and was built by local craftsman. The stone serves to separate reinforced concrete ‘trays,’ dramatically cantilevered over the stream. The first-floor entry, living room and dining room merge to create on continuous space, while a hatch door in the living room opens to a suspended stairway that descends to the stream below. Glass walls further open the rooms to the surrounding landscape. In 1938, Wright designed additional guest quarters set into the hillside directly above the main house and linked by a covered walkway.
A Cultural Symbol: Fallingwater stands as a testament to one man’s imagination, one family’s generosity and one place’s ability to symbolize how people may live in harmony with nature. in its 60 years of existence, Fallingwater has proven to be one of the most influential designs of 20th-century architecture, inspiring architects both near and far. Fallingwater is also, and perhaps more important, ever more popular with the general public, as demonstrated by the fact that nearly 150,000 people visit the house every year this despite its remote site. In recognition of the unique and unmatched importance of this design, Fallingwater was named the best American building of the last 125 years by the American Institute of Architects.
Visitor Experience: Visiting Fallingwater offers a unique architectural and natural experience, with guided tours exploring the house’s interior and exterior, including the famous cantilevered terraces and the surrounding landscape, with options for in-depth tours and grounds passes. Visitors journey into Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural genius, exploring the house’s integration with nature through tours, scenic grounds, and insights into Wright’s design philosophy.
The Legacy: Today, Fallingwater stands as a testament to Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural genius and a beacon for tourism in the region. Fallingwater is Wright’s most widely acclaimed work, designed in 1935 for the family of Pittsburgh department store owner Edgar J. Kaufmann. Today, Fallingwater is without question the most famous modern House in the world, reflecting its inspired embodiment of humanity’s fundamental and timeless desire to be at home in nature.
More than just an architectural achievement, this home tells a story of connection – between nature and art.
PETER WENTZ FARMSTEAD
The Peter Wentz Farmstead is a restored 18th-century historic site and working farm, settled by Peter and Rosanna Wentz in 1744. The house, built in 1758, is a remarkably unique example of colonial Pennsylvania German architecture and design. It is furnished throughout with period-accurate objects representing the types of items the Wentz family may have owned. Visitors to the Farmstead will see the house as it would have appeared in 1777, when General Washington and his staff used the property as a temporary headquarters. After the Wentz family sold the farm to Devault Bieber, it was then purchased in 1794 by Schwenkfelder reverend Melchoir Schultz. Generations of the Schultz family continued to live and farm here until 1969, when Montgomery County purchased the property. The farm buildings, livestock, and kitchen garden represent early Pennsylvania German farming culture and practices typical to this region.
The Wentz Farmstead is surrounded by 90 plus acres that are managed as an eighteenth-century working farmstead. A reconstructed barn houses animals that are typical of the period. There are gardens, orchards, and fields cultivated as they would have been in the period.
