Project Details
- Project Name
- Kling Midcentury Residence Renovation
- Architect
- k YODER design
- Project Types
- Single Family
- Size
- 3,585 sq. feet
- Year Completed
- 2015
- Project Status
- Built
Project Description
The Kling Midcentury Renovation updated classic midcentury modern architecture with amenities and functionality for the 21st century. The homeowner and design team recognized the importance of preservation and renovation working in tandem. Respect for the home’s architectural integrity and commitment to the needs of the current family were paramount. The project represents how existing residential architecture can be updated for today’s lifestyle without sacrificing original aesthetic or design intent. Houses with historic character – whether modern or traditional – can be updated thoughtfully and in keeping with the original style while still permitting creativity, personalization, and the latest amenities. Vincent G. Kling (1916-2013) is one of Philadelphia’s most notable and prolific architects. He worked closely with Edmund Bacon on city planning; designed significant commercial buildings including Bell Atlantic Tower (one of the city’s tallest buildings); founded what was, for a time, the largest architectural practice in the city; and served as AIA Philadelphia chapter president in 1965. While known more for his commercial and institutional projects, Kling designed numerous midcentury modern residences known for their clean lines and spatial purity. The 1959 Smith house is one of Kling’s notable residential commissions, and remained in the original owner’s family. In 2013, the house was placed on the market with conditions that showed its age; systems, finishes, and fixtures needed attention. In its current state, the home was little recognized for its architectural significance and deemed a teardown by realtors. As prospective buyers, the current homeowners called on their architect to review the home’s potential before they purchased the property. The architect immediately saw the significance and opportunity. Together, the decision was made to sensitively restore, preserve, and reinvigorate the house, and the architect communicated with the original family, who provided correspondence and original documentation. The subsequent complete interior and exterior renovation and restoration paid careful attention to craftsmanship and detailing for a project characterized by stewardship, balance, and refinement. Client requirements included preserving the home’s architectural integrity, promoting the livability of the original design, and ensuring organization and functionality for the future. The project complements the original architecture with thoughtful interventions and exceptional attention to detailing that respect and maintain the purity of the original plan. Finishes were updated, details edited, and the aesthetic polished for a hybrid of midcentury and 21st century modern style and amenities. A new kitchen was reimagined within the footprint of the original kitchen, taking care to maintain the original wood column spacing, bay configuration, window placement, and notable architectural details. A new master bath was created within the footprint of that original room, while preserving the original wood-paneled closet that divides the room from the master bedroom. Relocating the laundry to the basement provided space for a generous master shower as well as a first-floor powder room, an amenity the house previously lacked. The renovation preserves the Kling four-square plan and cruciform circulation while maintaining the rigor of the interior structure and spatial divisions. All of the wood structure was restored to a uniform dark cypress finish, reinstating Kling’s intended connection between indoor and outdoor spaces in the open floor plan. Floors were refinished, air conditioning grilles relocated to be less conspicuous, stone restored to the original grout formula, and the metal-edge marble-chip roof repaired to Kling’s original documentation. Exposure of the completed project in Philadelphia magazine brought it to the attention of DOCOMOMO US as a previously uncatalogued example of Kling’s residential work that will be shared in a future publication. The house was featured on a tour at the AIA National Convention in 2016.