The Rhode Residence, a visually stunning & remarkably preserved historic 1 Story Mid-Century Modern architectural gem in sought-after Rydal, Pennsylvania, is being offered for sale for only the 2nd time since it was designed & built in 1957. Located in the Philadelphia suburbs in Abington Township, an A Rated Blue Ribbon school district. Designed by Carlos Joseph Alvar (19242017), the prominent Cuban-born architect who worked directly under & was mentored by Louis Kahn from 19471951, the home carries an extraordinary architectural pedigree. Alvar earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Yale, where Oscar Niemeyer served as his senior thesis advisor & Le Corbusier judged his final project & received his Masters from UPENN. Few architects can claim direct connections to 3 of the most influential figures in twentieth-century modern architecture. Inspired by Kahn & contemporary modernist masters, Alvar designed award-winning homes featuring Pennsylvania fieldstone facades, open-flowing layouts, exposed structural elements, custom millwork, expansive windows, & dramatic ten-foot walls of glass that blur the lines between indoor living & the natural landscape. He emphasized thoughtful siting, light-filled spaces, & Japanese-inspired landscape design. The Rhode Residence is one of the finest surviving examples of Alvars residential work. Commissioned by Meyer & Rhea Rhode, longtime patrons of Philadelphias arts community. Set on a professionally landscaped & private .72 acre lot, this provenance-rich property combines dramatic architecture, privacy, landscape design, & original period details with thoughtful updates including roof, HVAC, kitchen, baths, electric, HWH, flooring, lighting, interior & exterior painting, landscaping, landscape lighting, hardscaping, & a custom glass garage door. Owned by a professional artist, the home has been meticulously preserved. Offering 1 level living, the residence features 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 2 stone wood-burning fireplaces, a living room, family room can also be a den or office, & an oversized detached 2-car garage. From the moment you enter, the defining architectural elements reveal themselves: dramatic ten-foot walls of glass, exposed original Douglas Fir ceiling beams, original tongue-&-groove ceilings, abundant natural light, & exceptional storage. Every major living space maintains a direct visual connection to the surrounding gardens, terraces, & mature landscaping. The exterior setting is equally impressive. Multiple Bluestone patios, terraces, courtyards, a deck with pergola, koi pond, landscape lighting, & Pennsylvania fieldstone walkways create a series of outdoor rooms designed to engage with the landscape from nearly every angle. One of the property's most notable provenance details is a custom stone landscape wall completed by a landscape architect responsible for portions of the Philadelphia Museum of Arts landscape walls along Kelly Drive. Rydal remains one of Montgomery Countys most sought-after neighborhoods, known for mature trees, large lots, architectural diversity, & exceptional access to Center City Philadelphia. The Rydal SEPTA station is approximately one minute away by car, an eight-minute walk, or two-minute bike ride. Around the corner amenities include Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Target, Starbucks, Wawa, restaurants, shopping, parks, golf courses, Abington Hospital, Holy Redeemer Hospital, Alverthorpe Park, Lorimer Park, and PHS Meadowbrook Farm. Opportunities to own a largely intact Mid-Century Modern home designed by a Kahn protg with direct educational connections to Yale, UPENN, Niemeyer, & Le Corbusier are increasingly rare. The Rhode Residence is far more than real estate. It is a work of art, a preserved architectural artifact, & a rare opportunity to experience an important chapter of Philadelphias modernist legacy. The home was recently appraised at $980,000 by an appraiser specializing in Mid-Century Modern homes.
