The Digest | New Jersey Magazine
Issue link: https://magazines.vuenj.com/i/1285484
e next few projects that the team at k YODER design picked up would define the firm's place in the architectural community and go on to win them numerous awards and accolades. Among those projects is Louis Kahn's 1961 jewel box style home, the Margaret Esherick House. When tackling the delicate task of renovating and restoring an architectural treasure, Yoder once again used his tried-and-true method of searching for Kahn's original drawings and floor plans of the house and sketching the changes to be made. He worked extensively with the Kahn Archives at the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton Esherick Museum to obtain documents and information. "It always helps to look back and get an understanding of the original architect's intentions for the project," says Yoder. His philosophy of working to understand the original artist's work while also focusing on the needs of his clients is the formula for the firm's success. anks to the notoriety of the home, Yoder and his team were able to find a generous amount of background info. One of the most notable rooms in the house is the custom- designed kitchen finished by renowned sculptor, Wharton Esherick, who was the uncle of the home's namesake owner, Margaret Esherick. Conservation included restoration of the kitchen's original wall finish, original paint colors, and the preservation of the Esherick woodwork. While the kitchen may be sumptuous to woodworkers, architects, and architectural buffs alike, the couple who bought the house still needed a place to cook that could handle daily wear and tear. Yoder transformed a former utility room adjacent to the kitchen to create a functional kitchen in order for the home to be more livable. e new kitchen does not interrupt nor clash with the Esherick kitchen and the new cabinetry was selected specifically to complement the color and grain of the original wood. Meanwhile, the goal for the rest of the home was to emphasize Kahn's original details like the iconic slot-window in the living room that exposes the fireplace's exterior chimney. Rather than hang art around the window, the homeowners opted to mount two projectors that reflect visuals onto the crisp white walls and are nearly invisible when not in use. Upon completion, this restoration project went on to win kYd its first Docomomo Modernism in America Award in 2016. ©Jeffrey Totaro V U E N J . C O M 141