Exclusive: Inside modernist Gunter Buchholz's Chestnut Hill home before it lists
The midcentury modern sits on the same block as Louis Kahn and Robert Venturi homes
By Melissa Romero May 26, 2017, 10:30am EDT
Gunter Buccholz designed this home in Chestnut Hill in 1967.
Courtesy of Francesca Prieto
After undergoing extensive renovations and restorations, the Chestnut Hill home of modernist Gunter Buchholz is set to hit the market next week for $950,000.
The three-bedroom, three-bath home at 201 Sunrise Lane sits on the same block as two other iconic midcentury moderns: Louis Kahn's Esherick House and the Vanna Venturi home, which Robert Venturi designed for his mother.
Built in 1967, the German architect Buchholz designed the 3,000-square-foot home for his family. Although he has disputed the claims, the current owners say some of features of the home are Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired, including the mitered window corners and the treehouse-like aspect of the wrap-around porch.
When the home was built, Buccholz's work was highlighted in a publication, where he was quoted as saying, "I love this house. I really love it. The spaces are all mine and they are extremely dear to me."
Buchholz died in 2015, and his home hit the market for the first time that same year, selling for $680,000. Though in relatively good shape considering its age, the current owners did make some changes to the property, which was so overgrown that some neighbors didn't even know the home existed.
The kitchen, for example, has entirely new cabinetry and appliances, yet the original slate tile floors remain. The sellers say Buccholz's apparent reason for choosing slate was because he didn't want any chipped Chinaware in the house: "If he dropped something he wanted [it] to completely break."
Co-listing agent Francesca Prieto tells Curbed Philly that the home is expected to hit the market next week; we'll update this article when it does. Until then, take a tour of the midcentury modern gem.
201 Sunrise Lane [Francesca Prieto and Paul Lipowicz, Keller Williams]
Modernist Gunter Buchholz's Chestnut Hill Abode Asks $680K [Curbed Philly]