Philadelphia Townhouse

The owners of the 160-year-old townhouse had been living there for only six months when fire caused major damage to their home. The 4500-square-foot-house required extensive structural, electrical, and mechanical work as well as consideration for smoke and water damage.

Because much of the rear of the house had been destroyed, PIA opted to redesign, removing a second floor room and adding new windows and a bay to create on open, informal two-story living space. The design also reintroduced a formal dining room and restored the front parlor and entryway. The kitchen connects the front and rear of the house and was designed to serve as an elegant transition between the public and private areas.

Because the house is listed on Philadelphia's Historic Registry, special care was taken with the exterior repair, including masonry conservation, detailed cornice repair, and painting. A stained-glass artist was commissioned to replace lost windows, which had been a legacy from a time when the home served as a church school and convent.

The project received two Renaissance 97 awards from Remodeling magazine, which called it " a perfect example of what historic remodeling is supposed to do."