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One of the over 20 bedrooms in the rambling Brick

One of the over 20 bedrooms in the rambling Brick House, the beloved home of J. Watson and Electra Webb which overlooks Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks. Architects John and Eliot Cross transformed what had been a dilapidated c. 1800 farmhouse into a sprawling house for the couple where they loved to host large house parties and Electra showcased her vast collection of Americana. They designed the rooms to be comfortably scaled with simple mouldings, iron hinges and hardware, modest mantels, and wove in salvaged historic oak wainscoting and wood paneling throughout — the goal was to recreate the warmth and cozy feeling of Nehasane, the Webb family’s great camp in the Adirondacks. Photo: @jon.wallen #crossandcross #brickhouse #shelburnevt #bedroom #woodpaneling

The breakfast room in a new shingled house in Main

The breakfast room in a new shingled house in Maine overlooking the Penobscot Bay, with its wood treillage ceiling, distressed antique marble floor, and plaster walls, was designed to feel like a garden gazebo within the house. French doors open onto the lawn with ocean views beyond. We love seeing this special house in @jenniferashrudick’s book, Summer to Summer, published by @vendomepress. Interior Design: Alexia Leuschen @tavernoftheheart; photo: @triagiovan #peterpennoyerarchitects #newhouse #newconstruction #newoldhouse #breakfastroom

There was a lot of curiosity about the original wh

There was a lot of curiosity about the original whitewashed facade and also the plan (second slide) of Wyldwoode (previous post) by Harrie T. Lindeberg. The first image, the rendering of the entrance facade by William A. Treanor, gives a sense of what the house would have look liked with whitewashed brick. This rendering also illustrates how Harrie presented the visitor with no more than a simple high-peaked entrance pavilion facing the arrival court — the rest of the house, laid out in a large V-shaped plan — has yet to unfold. The balance of the vast house is concealed from this first view with the service wing extending back to the east and the entertaining rooms to the northwest....with lots of trees obscuring these wings. This V-shape also meant that the dramatic view of Lake Michigan was hidden only until you were inside the house. As architectural critic, C. Matlack Price, said: the house was a “direct result of...Lindeberg’s imaginative use of materials, unfolding massing, and unconventional entrance sequence....the house unfurled in a sequence of angled wings, bays, and porches...” #harrietlindeberg #wyldwoode #lakeforest #whitewashedbrick

One of the most picturesque houses designed by Har

One of the most picturesque houses designed by Harrie T. Lindeberg, and one that really captures the imagination, is Wyldwoode, from 1916, for Clyde and Lillian Carr. Characteristic artistic touches in collaboration with Oscar Bach, a vast program controlled with a deft V-shaped plan, and unfolding volumes and angled wings all live under a giant, high-peaked roof. Colossal chimneys anchor the lake front (Lake Michigan) elevation and he incorporated half-timbering (at left) and decorative brickwork. The house was originally whitewashed brick and created a sensation in the architectural press for its “fearlessly independent spirit.” Photo: @jon.wallen #harrietlindeberg #lakeforest #chicago #oldhouse #historichouse

Detail from the steel front entrance doors of @tif

Detail from the steel front entrance doors of @tiffanyandco at 57th and Fifth by Cross & Cross (1940) which was the first important addition to the area since the beginning of the Depression and revitalized and shaped the retail district going forward. As critics said, “C&C omitted from its facade every evidence of an architectural past, but not that principle of form established in an era when men built with blocks of stones. The pattern, sustained by an armature of steel, is still that of a monument.” The building’s taut, undecorated surfaces have spare but powerful ornamental elements: the pink granite base and entrance surround, marble spandrels, and simple band course. The stainless steel window frames bordered with alpine marble accommodated thick, shatterproof glass. The building was the last city project of the brother architects and spoke to their ability to capture the energy of NYC and fuse both the past and the future in their designs: they knew how to make architecture celebrate the aspirations of a city that was continually reinventing itself. photo: @jon.wallen #tiffanyandco #crossandcross #nyc #midtown #historicbuilding #frontdoor #entrance

A beautiful example of early Federal style archite

A beautiful example of early Federal style architecture on the island of Nantucket. This circa 1780 house reflects the influence of whaling prosperity and exposure to other countries and styles: houses evolved from the simpler Quaker style and began to be more style conscious with consideration to ornamentation and attention to the arrangement of the facades. The central chimney was also replaced with two opposing pairs of chimneys freeing up the interior plan and circulation of the house. This entrance is a typical Nantucket early Federal adaptation of ancient Roman architecture and includes elements like block modillions in the pediment, triglyphs with guttae, pilasters...and the house also has rusticated quoins on its corners. Swipe to see. #nantucket #historichouse #federalstylearchitecture #entrance #frontdoor #oldhouse

The screened porch off of the library at a new cla

The screened porch off of the library at a new classical stone house we designed has French doors on three sides with three different views: a spring-fed stream with pastures and cows beyond, a stone terrace with myriad plantings, and a long lawn flanked by @miranda.brooks.gardens pleached trees. The exterior of the house features expanses of hand-tooled stone walls textured with grooves in an adze finish; the stone walls of the screened porch are smooth. Photo: @ericpiasecki #moderntraditional #newoldhouse #newconstruction #limestone #screenedporch

A curvilinear wrought iron garden gate at Mayfield

A curvilinear wrought iron garden gate at Mayfields (1920) by Cross & Cross, one of their more romantic and evocative country houses, a free architectural rendition of Colonial meets rambling English-style resulting in a quite vast, sprawling house which appeared small and approachable due to the story and a half wings, meandering plan, and little dormers peeking out, tucked into the undulating slate roof. The glorious gardens were by Ellen Biddle Shipman and Marian Cruger Coffin. Photo: @jon.wallen #crossandcross #mayfields #countryhouses #gardengate

High Tide, the Newport house designed by Whitney W

High Tide, the Newport house designed by Whitney Warren for his sister, Edith, and her husband, William Starr Miller in 1900. He situated the house on an elevated lot overlooking Bailey’s Beach and Almy Pond, building it into the sloping land. On the exterior, with its multi-gabled roof, lots of chimneys, and L-shaped plan to exploit views, the stucco and wood house appeared vast, but on the interior, delicate architectural details and Ogden Codman’s decoration gave the rooms an intimate scale. Photo: @jon.wallen #warrenandwetmore #newportcottages #newport #historichouse

There are some incredible views near our office. H

There are some incredible views near our office. Here is one, looking northeast from Madison Square at the Madison Avenue edge through the great arch of 11 Madison (1928) by Harvey Wiley Corbett towards the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (1900) by James Brown Lord. The sculpture at the top of Lord’s marble civic building is extraordinary: the personification of Justice by Daniel Chester French sits at the top of the pediment flanked by French’s figures representing Power and Study (Study is visible here). Within the deep pediment, a 5-figure sculptural group by Charles Niehaus symbolizes the Triumph of Law. Another post is needed to go into further depth on the extent to which art and architecture merge in this fascinating small building. Meanwhile, Corbett’s Art Deco building, which would have been the tallest, 100-story skyscraper in the world at the time, for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, was thwarted bc of the Depression and only the 30-story base was realized. He had proposed a mammoth telescoping tower with fluted walls, rounded facades, clad in Alabama limestone. Corbett had left his position on the Rockefeller Center design team to take up this project. #nyc #nycbuildings #courthouse #skyscraper #artdeco #harveywileycorbett #metlifenorthbuilding

The inside of this 19th century cupola had been co

The inside of this 19th century cupola had been completely stripped of its texture and history when the building it is a part of was converted into a condo and all of the interiors were reduced to a series of sheet rock boxes. We reimagined and reconstructed the interior architecture of this special triplex, including this domed cupola, which we designed as a two-story penthouse: the lower level is a family room and the upper story seen here, and accessed by a compact bronze spiral stair fabricated by @la_forge_de_style, is a circular library. We were proud to see this apartment project in @elledecor this summer! Interior Decoration: @katieridderinc; Photo: @ericpiasecki; Styling: @annefoxley #moderntraditional #nycliving #cupola #newarchitecture #library

Sir John Soane’s @soanemuseum house in London is

Sir John Soane’s @soanemuseum house in London is a treasure trove of architectural surprises, a study in the effects of light reflecting off of mirrors and filtering through more than 100 stained glass panels, the discovery of spaces sculpted into vaults and domes, and innumerable curiosities. It’s a place to go back to time and time again. A favorite surprise is the Shakespeare Recess, a niche tucked away on the main stair...it celebrates Shakespeare with paintings of his subjects, ancient stained glass panels, and, look up, and you will see cherubs at each corner of the domed ceiling surrounding a sunburst in the sky. In the first photo, the Shakespeare Recess is below the stair and another alcove, the Tivoli Recess, is above, tucked away from the curve. #london #sirjohnsoane #sirjohnsoanesmuseum

Always looking up! For this new sweeping wood stai

Barberrys (1916-19) by Harrie T. Lindeberg, photog

Barberrys (1916-19) by Harrie T. Lindeberg, photographed in summer, looking especially lush. Designed for Nelson and Martha Doubleday, he was known as a brilliant merchandiser who revolutionized the publishing world by developing distribution channels, and was “a genius at devising ways to put books into the hands of the unbookish.” The house was sited on the crest of a hill overlooking Oyster Bay, laid out in a butterfly plan, with wings angling out from the center block, so that every room could enjoy the view (in this pic you can begin to see the angled butterfly shape). Typical of Harrie, he combined unexpected materials and forms resulting, in a texturally rich and layered house: Colonial Revival whitewashed brick walls meet a more Mediterranean tiled roof and sgraffito around the front door. The front door also includes elaborate ironwork by one of Harrie’s favorite collaborators, artist Oscar Bach, who sculpted zodiac signs to greet all who entered. British author Daphne du Maurier often visited Nelson and his second wife, Ellen, with whom she fell in love and called the “Rebecca of Barberrys.” photo: @jon.wallen #harrietlindeberg #longisland #millneck #nelsondoubleday #oldhouse

Morning lights filters in to the living room throu

Morning lights filters in to the living room through tall French doors at Peter and @katieridderinc’s house in Millbrook. Katie covered the walls in pink tea paper and anchored the room with a bright Oushak in ochre and red tones. Peter found many of the antique pieces, including an inverted column capital, supporting a nineteenth-century bust, at auction. photo: @ericpiasecki #houseinthecountry #millbrook #livingroomdecor

One week from today! We are thrilled that next Thu

One week from today! We are thrilled that next Thursday, August 13, at 6pm, Peter, along with our BIM Director, Colin Slaten, and our 3D Production Manager, Philip Davis, will be giving an in-depth virtual exploration with the @classicist_org on how our firm employs digital technology to produce our projects. As an early-adopter of technology, we at PPA believe that classicists are well-positioned to lead the architecture field into the future. While hand-drawing and traditional methods are still a cornerstone of our work, we are passionate about using the most cutting-edge digital tools, including virtual reality, BIM, and 3D printing to advance our work. These photos demonstrate the evolution of an NYC project — from 3D-printed model to real life — where we completely rebuilt the interior of a cupola. All photos are by @ericpiasecki; interior decoration: @katieridderinc. LINK IN BIO to register and learn more! Thank you to the ICAA and to the sponsors making this virtual lecture possible: @_rinck_ @hydeparkmouldings @reiscontracting #peterpennoyerarchitects #moderntraditional #3dprinting #architecturalmodel

In a new house we designed out East and collaborat

In a new house we designed out East and collaborated on with @victoriahaganinteriors, pocket doors separate the airy master bedroom from its sitting room and bathroom. Every bedroom in the house has a ceiling lofted into the roof, which allowed the first floor to have 12-foot ceilings. Photo: @ericpiasecki #peterpennoyerarchitects #moderntraditional #ad100

Sunday flashback to the loggia of Villa del Balbia

Sunday flashback to the loggia of Villa del Balbianello built by Cardinal Angelo Durini in the late 18th century. It is perched at the highest point of its gardens which slope dramatically down steep and rocky terrain to the water. Neo-baroque stairs ascend up to the arches and vaulted open space of the central portico, where skillfully pruned climbing fig covers the columns. The loggia is open on two sides and offers two different views: the Tremezzina Bay to the north and the Isola Comacina to the south. #villadelbalbianello #lakecomo #lakecomoitaly #italy #lakedistrict #northernitaly #loggia @villadelbalbianello

#sitevisit: a door including sidelights with bevel

#sitevisit: a door including sidelights with beveled glass we uncovered under 150 years of paint at a special project we are working on with @thomasjayne: the renovation and preservation of an Italianate Victorian house on Long Island. The door is from an 1880s alteration during the Aesthetic Movement and the glass in the top windows, which we removed pane by pane for cleaning, is emerald green and the stops which held in the panes are hung above. #oldlongisland #historicpreservation #aestheticmovement #historichouse

In a new house in Maine, a classically-inspired an

In a new house in Maine, a classically-inspired and operable transom (it’s open in this picture) with curved mullions spans above tall terrace doors which open onto a tubular steel-framed pergola with bamboo screening. Special finishes include terrazzo made with shards of marble cut on the island, bulrush matting, and bamboo panels on interior walls...the ones here in an acid lemon color. Interior design: Alexia Leuschen, @tavernoftheheart; photo: @ericpiasecki

The front door at Mayfields (1920) for G. Hermann

The front door at Mayfields (1920) for G. Hermann and Dorothy Kinnicutt (parents of Sister Parish) by Cross & Cross opens onto a wide and long hallway bisecting the large and gracious living and dining rooms and extending through the center of the house out to the rear lawn. In this photo, you can see straight to the door at the other end with rolling green hills outside! Photo: @jon.wallen #crossandcross #mayfields #farhills #newjersey #countryhouse #frontdoor

Good morning from our NYC project with @katieridde

Good morning from our NYC project with @katieridderinc, where we completely rebuilt and reimagined the interior architecture of an historic cupola, creating a two-story penthouse atop an apartment. This bottom level of the cupola is a family room, carried out in rich colors and lots of vibrant textiles; the custom sofa follows the curves of the space. Thank you @elledecor @stellenevolandes @ingridabram and Nancy Hass. Styling: @annefoxley; photography: @ericpiasecki; see more of this project in this month’s @elledecor in print and online! #peterpennoyerarchitects #nycliving #cupola #renovation #reconstruction #newarchitecture

Early evening summer light hitting the curves and

A detail shot of the exterior of the historic cupo

A detail shot of the exterior of the historic cupola of our New York City project in @elledecor this month. Working with @jhpa_ny, we preserved and rebuilt much of this cupola and reframed the copper dome to allow for a full two-story penthouse structure. We then reimagined all new interior architecture: the round windows are the upper level library seen in an earlier post. Link in bio for more! Photo by the intrepid @ericpiasecki