House Noir
A refined modern residence defined by bold geometry, warm materiality, and quiet simplicity.
A Quiet Confidence
House Noir sits on a narrow infill lot in a historic Philadelphia neighborhood, surrounded by brick rowhomes and mature street trees. Rather than compete with its context, the residence adopts a dark, monolithic form that recedes into shadow by day and glows softly from within at night, letting its neighbors keep the street’s familiar rhythm.
Living Around a Central Void
At the heart of the plan is a full-height light well that pulls daylight down through all three levels, anchoring the kitchen, stair, and living spaces around a single shared volume. Bedrooms and quieter rooms are pushed to the perimeter, giving the family both a communal center and private retreats at the edges.
A Warm Interior Beneath a Dark Shell
Charred cedar siding and blackened steel give the exterior its restrained, almost sculptural presence, while white oak floors, plaster walls, and brass fixtures bring warmth to every room inside. The contrast was intentional: a house that reads as solid and grounded from the street, and soft and inviting the moment you step through the door.
