“Working on this project and seeing I.M. Pei’s drawings and details – experiencing them firsthand – reinforces the benefits and appreciation that people have for modern design.”
– Kevin Yoder
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Built in the mid-1960s, I.M. Pei’s Society Hill complex includes three residential towers and 37 townhouses. It remains a thriving residential community in the heart of Old City. In 2010, kYd completed the first of several town house renovations within the complex. Designed by Kevin Yoder for his own family, the renovation retained Pei’s grand design gestures while updating the house for modern life.
The project set the design foundation for kYd’s subsequent work – taking inspiration from Pei’s original drawings, respecting context, yet reimagining spatial organization and functionality for the way families live today. The project has been widely published in the decade since it was completed, demonstrating the appeal of kYd’s sensitive, thoughtful approach to ensuring classic modernism retains both a timeless aesthetic and livability.
The renovation removed select interior partitions to create improved connectivity between rooms and expansive views to the outdoors. The enclosed galley kitchen was opened to the rear dining room and front breakfast room to unify the ground floor. Wall-mounted cabinetry and aluminum wall panels visually connect the kitchen and dining areas, while durable terrazzo flooring adds continuity. The reinterpreted breakfast room light cove continues the horizontal datum created by the front window and brick garden walls. Reconfiguring the third floor into a primary suite highlights an original ribbon window, while adding modern-day amenities such as a walk-through dressing closet and spa-like primary bath. Organization for toys and electronics integrates thoughtfully within custom cabinetry and behind sliding wall panels. A burnished metal hearth accents an original fireplace in the living room. Color and light enhance the design. LED light coves visually create the illusion of larger spaces, such as in the home’s powder rooms. The aluminum wall between the kitchen and dining area captures and reflects the red brick exterior while visually connecting past and present.
Photos © Jeffrey Totaro; Geoffrey Ziegler; and Heidi’s Bridge
Society Hill Town House
Recognition
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Built in the mid-1960s, I.M. Pei’s Society Hill complex includes three residential towers and 37 townhouses. It remains a thriving residential community in the heart of Old City. In 2010, kYd completed the first of several town house renovations within the complex. Designed by Kevin Yoder for his own family, the renovation retained Pei’s grand design gestures while updating the house for modern life.
The project set the design foundation for kYd’s subsequent work – taking inspiration from Pei’s original drawings, respecting context, yet reimagining spatial organization and functionality for the way families live today. The project has been widely published in the decade since it was completed, demonstrating the appeal of kYd’s sensitive, thoughtful approach to ensuring classic modernism retains both a timeless aesthetic and livability.
The renovation removed select interior partitions to create improved connectivity between rooms and expansive views to the outdoors. The enclosed galley kitchen was opened to the rear dining room and front breakfast room to unify the ground floor. Wall-mounted cabinetry and aluminum wall panels visually connect the kitchen and dining areas, while durable terrazzo flooring adds continuity. The reinterpreted breakfast room light cove continues the horizontal datum created by the front window and brick garden walls. Reconfiguring the third floor into a primary suite highlights an original ribbon window, while adding modern-day amenities such as a walk-through dressing closet and spa-like primary bath. Organization for toys and electronics integrates thoughtfully within custom cabinetry and behind sliding wall panels. A burnished metal hearth accents an original fireplace in the living room. Color and light enhance the design. LED light coves visually create the illusion of larger spaces, such as in the home’s powder rooms. The aluminum wall between the kitchen and dining area captures and reflects the red brick exterior while visually connecting past and present.
Photos © Jeffrey Totaro; Geoffrey Ziegler; and Heidi’s Bridge
“Pei’s designs are pure geometry. This new design reinforces those lines.
KEVIN YODER