This project is the complete remodel of a mid-century modern home that is set into a hillside on a beautiful, private four-acre property in Villanova, Pennsylvania. At the outset of the project, the team observed that the existing interior layout was maze-like and spaces were dark and did not engage the home's unique setting in the landscape. Consequently, the desire to bring nature and light inside the home became a design driver for the project, and all decisions were considered as they related to daylight, views, and the ability to experience the property beyond.

Having established daylighting and views as a goal, the team decided to reorient the layout of the spaces toward the hillside, and eliminate many of the small, dark and divided interior spaces. A previous addition was demolished, and in its place a series of new roof gables were established. They not only compliment the original roof structure, but also serve to simplify interior circulation and frame views of the incredible property, bringing nature and daylight into the 4,800 sf home from every angle.

Original details such as the exposed ceilings, beams, columns, and a large interior wall made of Pennsylvania fieldstone were maintained and restored and add richness to the interior spaces.

New finishes, such as the kitchen and library corner, as well as the intricate railing detailing that winds through the home, highlight the home's unique sectional geometry. The ceiling planes of the new interior living spaces are vaulted in a similar manner as the existing to bring a sense of continuity between old and new. Lastly, the use of white oak throughout in the millwork and flooring brings a sense of warmth and grounding to the interior spaces and to the interior as a whole.

This renovation project hopes to serve as a model for the many mid-century modern homes in the region (and beyond) which are often deemed unsalvageable because of inefficient envelopes, insufficient building systems, and dated interior finishes. The project celebrates the design and original character of the home and its unique site while simultaneously modernizing the building envelope and providing a new aesthetic on the interior that is not characteristically mid-century but is complementary to the original detailing of the home.