Bloomfield and Associates
'The stair is now the connective tissue that connects the formerly separate rooms into one cohesive whole.
While
the prospect of moving from a suburban environment to an urban
condition typically has certain limitations with regards to light and
air and high quality outdoor space, the notion of retiring to a
thriving urban neighborhood held an undeniable allure for Larry and
Sally Thompson. After an exhaustive search they settled on
Philadelphia's Queen Village neighborhood and bought an 18ft wide six
level row house that had been redeveloped in the late eighties. The
architects? involved keeping the location of the stair and affording it
even more space and presence in the form of an atrium that is
'connective tissue' to the formerly separate rooms. The new stair
solarium that goes from entry level up past the roof is the origin of a
new geometry, offering natural light deep into the house. It also acts
as an environmentally friendly change. During the summer, it acts as a
chimney --- venting hot air by way of thermostatically controlled vents
--- and during the cold winter months, the south facing monitor windows
take advantage of natural heat gain. Photography by Barry Halkin looking up
view from living room to back deck
view into study and kitchen
Index to MODERN HOMES PHILADELPHIA History Pages
Overview of Philadelphia Area Mid-Century Modern Residential Architecture (below on this page) Photo overview followed by brief written overview of Philadelphia mid-century architects .
Time Line of area modern homes from 1930's to today Mid-Century Modern Homes
Architects Who Designed Mid-Century Modern Homes in the Philadelphia Region
photographs of the regional homes designed by each architect are included
