Philadelphia Loft by Brent Buck Architects

Housed within a 19th-century knitting mill, Philadelphia Loft by Brent Buck Architects challenges an archetypal family home by embracing the building’s unusual typology and industrial language.

Drawn to the idea of creating an unconventional home, the clients, Philadelphia locals who work in residential development, discovered that this industrial building in Fairmount, a bustling neighbourhood in North Philadelphia, provided the perfect springboard for their vision. They were familiar with architect Brent Buck, having consulted his studio on a project several years prior, however it was their Brooklyn-based rug dealer who ultimately suggested him for the job.

“The clients were very specific about certain things but at the same time they were unique in their ability to process different schemes and consider the value of one versus another,” says Buck.

Upon receiving the call, Buck, whose projects are primarily in New York, was immediately intrigued by the context and typology. “We like doing projects outside of New York and to build in a new city is interesting,” he says. “I drove to Philly and sat down with the clients in the space which, at the time, was being used as a food photography studio – it hadn’t had a substantial renovation in decades. We talked about their ambitions for the project and tried to align our ideas on what a family home would look like from a design and cost perspective.”

A rigorous design phase ensued, involving countless site visits and renderings. “The clients were very specific about certain things but at the same time they were unique in their ability to process different schemes and consider the value of one versus another,” says Buck. A process that involved Buck providing his clients with “homework” and receiving feedback in return “enabled us to keep the project moving forward”.

Philadelphia Loft fuses the building’s industrial character with a contemporary sensibility.

Philadelphia Loft fuses the building’s industrial character with a contemporary sensibility. Its identity as a factory is indisputably intact albeit levelled up and now supremely liveable. Elements such as the exposed timber rafters and masonry walls have been retained and restored, reinforcing the home’s lineage and bringing depth to the pared-back design. The layout has been carved from the original framework also, allowing for a new floor plan that makes sense within the existing structure.

At street level, a striking entry vestibule acts as an important holding area, delineating public and private zones. “The clients wanted an amazing entrance, so we spent a lot of time trying to make it a simple yet impactful space,” says Buck. The cruciform room is framed on three sides by soaring archways; natural light pours in through the restored and now energy-efficient windows; and in the centre, an oversized paper lantern hovers above a round table. It feels otherworldly in comparison to the grey-painted utilitarian exterior and hints at the design rationale that unfolds upstairs.

Its identity as a factory is indisputably intact albeit levelled up and now supremely liveable.

Spacious and bright with high ceilings, the second floor contains the kitchen, dining and living areas, as well as an outdoor courtyard that brings the outside in. There’s a cosy media room entirely in deep shades of blue, and the library, replete with built-in timber shelves, overlooks the courtyard. These spaces are enlivened by natural light, which streams through the expansive windows lining the eastern and western elevations and two new skylights.

One of the most significant interventions involved the addition of a third floor. Conceived as a metal-clad form that perches atop the preserved masonry shell, it contains three bedrooms – each with their own bathroom – and a second living area. This whole-floor addition offers a diversity of zones befitting a family home of this size.

Spacious and bright with high ceilings, the second floor contains the kitchen, dining and living areas, as well as an outdoor courtyard that brings the outside in.

This sense of spatial generosity pervades the home, and though the large windows capture a patchwork of the surrounding tree canopy and neighbouring row houses, emphasis is placed heavily on the internal experience, creating a loft-like effect. “We didn’t want to deny the context, but the overriding idea is that when you’re in this building, it becomes this very day-lit, inward-looking experience,” says Buck.

The restrained palette of European oak, Carrara marble and Petit Granit – a grey-blue limestone from Belgium – is integral to this pursuit. The outcome is a warm and enveloping atmosphere that’s elevated without being too formal. “Everything is considered, but it doesn’t feel too dressed up,” says Buck. “The clients didn’t want it to feel like a loft in Williamsburg that was rough and tumble – they wanted it to be polished to a certain degree and we as architects didn’t want to lose all the character, and I think that both of those things are evident.”

“We didn’t want to deny the context, but the overriding idea is that when you’re in this building, it becomes this very day-lit, inward-looking experience,” says Buck.

Buck’s considered application of these materials feels like a natural evolution of the existing fabric, supporting the project’s resounding line of enquiry for an inner-city sanctuary that is true to its bones but has a modern edge. “Though it’s an urban project and the street is busy, you do feel removed from that, and I would say that, for a city house, it’s nice to have that sense of calm,” he says. “The natural light, the brightness of the interiors and the warmth of all of it – that’s something I’m very proud of.”

Architecture and interior design by Brent Buck Architects. Build by Hanson Fine Building.