RKM Architects

On the Boards: We are excited to be working on a small mixed-use project in West Philadelpia. This project includes three apartments and a small commercial space at grade. These images are from the early stages of schematic design. Images by Josh Fabrizio.

On the Boards: Sunroom Addition. This year, it seems that many folks are considering adapting, renovating, and adding onto their existing houses. This is an example of a small addition we are designing on the rear of a Fishtown rowhouse, with the goal of creating a stronger link between the residence and their rear yard. The program consists of just a sunroom at the ground level, and a screened porch with fireplace at the second level. These images are from ongoing schematic design work on the project. Images by Anjelica Soesanto.

On The Boards: We often do feasibility studies for clients who are trying to evaluate options for potential development. These studies may or may not lead to eventual construction of a project. The studies are a means of testing out what a site can yield, and whether a project may be workable financially. This is an investigation we did for a multi-family development on a challenging edge lot in the Fishtown section of the city. Images by Josh Fabrizio

On the Boards: We are excited to share some images of a schematic design we are working on for a 28 unit mixed-use development in West Philadelphia. This project is still in the early stages. (Thx Josh Fabrizio for the renderings).

Havertown Master Bath renovation. The attached images show a master bath project that was recently completed for a private client. It is a part of the ongoing interior renovation of a suburban mid-century modern residence.

We are happy to welcome Anjelica Soesanto to our team here at RKM Architects. Sadly for her first day with us, she was subjected to a very rough survey of an empty building including a flooded basement, cobwebs the size of ropes, and rotting floors. She handled it like a real trooper.

Meet Bowie, the new office dog. While I would say he is good for morale, he is definitely not helping productivity. It is kind of the equivalent of having the cat on your keyboard x 3.

Wishing everyone out there the very best this holiday season.

Sometimes the design community seems very small, and the connections circle around and around. Years ago, in the nineties, I worked for a firm here in Philly, and one of the partners in the firm was a bit of a mentor to me. Jack passed away last year after a long illness. It had been many years since I last saw him, but through a number of common connections; his daughter contacted me with the idea that she would like to build a house in the vacant lot next to her own house... for her mother Jack’s widow. This is a fairly modestly scaled project, but one that comes with a bit more meaning due to the history. ‘Mother’s Tower’ is a four story rowhouse that is designed with the goal of creating the opportunity for vertical living, while still allowing for accessibility and aging in place. The lot is challenging, in that it is only 12’-0 wide. The first floor will be close to grade for accessibility and the design will include a residential elevator as well as stairs to access all levels of the house. There is a small rear yard, as well as pilot house access to a roof deck for container gardening. The design also includes a balcony off the third floor deck which will allow for views of the street and over the rooftops in the area. These images represent our schematic design efforts to date. Richard Miller, RKM Architects,

This is a project we have been working on for some time, and it is now nearing the start of construction. The project fronts the El, and includes 18 apartment units. Images by Joshua Fabrizio, RKM Architects.

We are sharing some Schematic Design images of a private residence we are designing for a couple here in Fishtown. The project includes a home office, workshop/garage, roof deck and garden.

We are sharing some schematic design sketches of the Corinthian Street Residence, which is proposed for the Fairmount Section of the city. This design proposes a new three-story structure with two bedrooms, artist studio, and private office. The palette of materials includes brick, limestone, and shou sugi ban (charred wood) rainscreen siding.

After a bit of pause, 'Stack House' is back and under construction. This project is an overbuild of an existing garage in South Kensington for use as a single-family residence and home workshop/office. The image shows the project framed out and 'in the green'. The renderings hint at what will be the finished residence and the overall stacking design strategy for the project.

Thompson Street Flats is nearing completion. Here are some recent images of one of the units, as staged by the leasing agent.

Ground breaking occurred this week on a single-family residence we designed on Orkney Street in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia. The project will feature a brick base and shou sugi ban charred cedar siding on the exterior. The residence will feature a large open plan living floor, 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bath, home office, finished basement with wine cellar, garage and a roof deck overlooking center city.

http://www2.philly.com//philadelphia-apartments-convent-fl Our 'Convent Flats' project is in the Inquirer this week, with some nice shots of the Chapel Apartment.

Thompson Street Flats is progressing pretty nicely here in Fishtown. The construction fence is now down and the sidewalks poured. Planters, entry canopies, and the siding are ongoing, but the overall structure is enclosed and work on interior finishes is now progressing.