THE WATER RUNS THROUGH

Positioned on the edge of Philadelphia’s Forest Park System, within a narrow valley and key watershed tributary, this home enjoys long views from almost every vantage point. Over 250 years, this site has evolved from a one-room farmhouse to an expansive estate.  With each modification, the architecture has stayed in lock-step with the rolling topography.  Terraces and walls were added throughout to mitigate the vertical transitions while providing garden rooms as extensions of the interior living spaces.  The design of the home and landscape embraces moving water, as it is the prime element that has shaped this property over time. The Spring House, now repurposed as a recreational space, continues to allow the water to run through as one of many stops on its journey through a series of creeks, waterfalls, and ponds. A grass-covered stone bridge provides passage over the creek, connecting the lower property through the meadow.

Design Team: Peter Zimmerman Architects, Corso Brothers Construction
Landscape Contractor: Paragon Landscaping Corporation
Photography: Jeffrey Totaro & Charles Hess