Kahn’s principles of geometry, light and materiality are clearly expressed in the Esherick house, imbuing the intimate residence with a sense of monumentality. The material nature of the house — what it is and how it is made — is apparent at first glance: a private, contemplative building simply constructed of warm beige concrete and natural Apitong wood. Clarity and tranquility characterize the whole of Kahn’s work, and the Esherick house is no exception.
Situated at a perfect angle on a property measuring more than half an acre, the house has a striking presence. The approach features a planar composition with a textured mortar finish bisected by a strong vertical chimney, while keyhole windows framed with Apitong and placed at irregular intervals punctuate the front facade. The floor plan reveals Kahn’s refined design of two symmetrical side-by-side rectangles that allow for both openness and structural clarity. Kahn’s use of pure geometry in the facades and interior spaces speaks to archetypal references that Kahn drew on throughout his body of work. Here, like in all his buildings, Kahn united this architectural history with the modern present in a truly unique structure.
The Esherick house was commissioned by Margaret Esherick, niece of famed Philadelphia sculptor Wharton Esherick, in 1959 and completed in 1961. The house features a complete, one of a kind, custom kitchen by Wharton Esherick, which is one of his last remaining intact interiors. Located in the Chestnut Hill area of Philadelphia, and approximately 90 minutes from Manhattan, the Esherick house received the distinguished honor of a Landmark Building Award from the American Institute of Architects, Philadelphia chapter in 1992.