Esherick House

The Esherick House is a single-family home in Chestnut Hill with an unusual interior structure of two parallel rows of rooms stacked across two stories. The walls feature load-bearing concrete masonry, and windows have adjustable shutters that control light and airflow throughout the spaces.

Architect Louis Kahn designed this house in 1961 for Margaret Esherick, a Philadelphia bookstore owner. The project applied modern architectural principles that were relatively new at the time.

The kitchen displays handcrafted elements created by artist Wharton Esherick in copper and wood that give the space character. Such personally designed details show how residents could shape their living spaces with individual touches.

The house features adjustable shutters that let visitors control how much natural light and air enter different rooms. Walking through it shows how a modern home organizes movement between spaces and integrates handcrafted details into everyday living areas.

A large built-in bookcase fills one wall of the living room and reflects the original owner's background as a bookstore owner. The shelves are integrated into the wall and frame a fireplace, showing how the space was shaped around the resident's interests.