PHILADELPHIA AREA
MID-CENTURY MODERN AND MODERN RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE
OUTLINE OF SITE:
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
Following are photos of some of my favorite Philadelphia-area mid-century homes, illustrating the range of residential architecture being built during this period. These homes are not for sale and are included here for historical reference only. To protect the privacy of owners, no specific locations are shown. Additional views of many of these homes may be found by clicking on the names of architects in the list at the top of this page. The page ends with a brief overview of some of the architects working in the Philadelphia area during this period. 
Frank Weise 1951: Bernard Weise residence Weise background information 
Louis Kahn 1951: Genel House, front and side view Kahn background information
Louis Kahn 1967: Fisher House Louis Kahn 1959 Esherick
Oscar Stonorov Note the all-glass high-ceilinged living space projecting over the hilltop.
background information on Stonorov
Montgomery & Bishop Montgomery & Bishop background information
The next 6 photos are of some of the Irwin Stein homes. background information Stein
Two recently built Modern Homes
Thaddeus Longstreth began his career with Neutra. Two examples of his work
OVERVIEW OF ARCHITECTS
Following is an overview of architects involved with modern home designs in the Philadelphia area from the 1930's through the 1960's. The work of most of these architects may be found by clicking on the names of architects on the list at the top of this page.
Early modern homes in the Philadelphia region were influenced by the international style of the European Bauhaus movement. George Howe and Kenneth Day were the first to bring the influence of the international style to homes in the Philadelphia area. Oscar Stonorov's early work in the area shows evidence of his start in the Bauhaus movement. After WWII Howe, Day, and Stonorov maintained lean practices, although Stonorov's had grown by the 1960's. Louis Kahn established his own office after association with Howe and Stonorov. Many Philadelphia architects designing modern homes in the 1950's and 1960's began their careers working in the office of Louis Kahn. Norman Rice, a classmate of Kahn's, was another Philadelphia architect influenced by the international style due to his time in Paris with LeCorbusier.
Beginning in the 1950's, a number of firms became known for their modern work. Vincent Kling was the first to build a firm fully committed to the modern esthetic. Newcomb Montgomery and Robert Bishop did modern work with an appreciation of local traditions. Their homes, such as the Winkleman House in East Falls, used local stone to grand effect. Jules Gregory and Alan Berkowitz also became know for their modern work. Philadelphia has a number of homes designed by architects with a national presence. These include homes by Frank Lloyd Wright, Walter Gropius, Paul Rudolph and Richard Neutra. This group not only designed homes here but taught and/or worked with Philadelphia modern architects. Frank Weise, a student of Gropius and Breuer at Harvard, designed some of the most interesting and original modern homes in the area. These include the Bernard Weise house in Abington and the Carner House in Roxborough. Irving Maitin also studied at Harvard with Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer. His personal residence shows the classic simplicity of a great mid-century home. Thaddeus Longstreth first worked with Richard Neutra in California. After moving to Philadelphia and setting up an independent practice, Longstreth continued to work with Neutra on the homes designed by Neutra in the area. Irwin Stein studied under Paul Rudolph at the University of Pennsylvania and worked in the offices of Stonorov, Weise and Kling. Stein then set up an independent practice designing many mid-century modern homes in the region.
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
