Newburgh, New York
2019-2023
Designed by architect Philip Johnson in 1949, Wolfhouse shares the same build date as his most notable project, The Glass House. Located just 1.5 hours north of NYC in Newburgh, NY, Wolfhouse was a robust preservation project completed in collaboration with Jiminie Ha of With Projects.
Original floor plans for the house are on file at the Avery Architecture Library at Columbia University. When we purchased this house in 2019, it looked completely different from the current restoration. The entire exterior had been reframed to hide the first floor. The exterior took on a completely different shape and was adorned in lattice, with rotting porch additions, and a 1980s baby blue paint job. The house was falling into the ground and was at risk of demolition.
Immediately, we made structural improvements to stabilize the home. Over the next three years, we slowly worked on the restoration, making sure to adequately preserve all original elements. The entire exterior was replaced with custom-milled cypress wood, the same material used at the time of the original build. We custom-ordered tile to match what was left of the bathrooms’ tile and refitted the entire downstairs, kitchen, and entry with 4 x 4 terracotta tile to match the original tile found on the porch and fireplace.
Many interior built-ins, including the closet systems, were fully intact. We weren’t so lucky with the venting system, which spans the exterior walls. The house was built before air conditioning and relied on vents to carry cool air into the house during warm summer months. This simple technology was completely sealed shut, and it required extensive work to open the vents and remove years of spray foam insulation, plastic, and rotting debris.
Aside from limited information contained in a few 20th-century publications, not much was known about the house. Over the past few years, the Wolf family has come forward with photos and videos of the home’s original construction. This documentation came with incredible stories, including the true origins of the home’s commission by Ruth Wolf, the matriarch of the family. An eccentric New York City socialite who surrounded herself with artists, writers, and creators, she is the reason the house exists today.
While the house is a preservation project, we did take creative liberties in the kitchen. As with most modern homes, the kitchen was strictly utilitarian. We felt this was a good opportunity to introduce a contemporary element. USM Modular’s ethos and functionality made them a perfect partner. Utilizing discarded and upcycled pieces from the USM Long Island warehouse, we assembled a galley kitchen similar to those represented in the house’s original drawings. We partnered with Cara Green, using Paperstone for the countertops.
We adapted the USM system, designed primarily as modular shelving, for the kitchen, which presented some challenges. The end result was an incredible success, and the kitchen feels like part of the original design.
Design Within Reach, a partner in the interior restoration of the Wolfhouse, added a beautiful blend of furniture for a mix of mid-century and postmodern curation. The goal was to maintain the authenticity of the era while introducing postmodern design influences. By incorporating these carefully selected pieces, the interior of the house seamlessly combines the past and the present, creating a cohesive and visually stunning environment.
Project team: Jeremy Parker, Jiminie Ha, Juan Najara, Jack Friedman
Photos: Chris Daniele, Brian Ferry, Fahad Alhunaif
Immediately, we made structural improvements to stabilize the home. Over the next three years, we slowly worked on the restoration, making sure to adequately preserve all original elements. The entire exterior was replaced with custom-milled cypress wood, the same material used at the time of the original build. We custom-ordered tile to match what was left of the bathrooms’ tile and refitted the entire downstairs, kitchen, and entry with 4 x 4 terracotta tile to match the original tile found on the porch and fireplace.
Many interior built-ins, including the closet systems, were fully intact. We weren’t so lucky with the venting system, which spans the exterior walls. The house was built before air conditioning and relied on vents to carry cool air into the house during warm summer months. This simple technology was completely sealed shut, and it required extensive work to open the vents and remove years of spray foam insulation, plastic, and rotting debris.
Aside from limited information contained in a few 20th-century publications, not much was known about the house. Over the past few years, the Wolf family has come forward with photos and videos of the home’s original construction. This documentation came with incredible stories, including the true origins of the home’s commission by Ruth Wolf, the matriarch of the family. An eccentric New York City socialite who surrounded herself with artists, writers, and creators, she is the reason the house exists today.
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While the house is a preservation project, we did take creative liberties in the kitchen. As with most modern homes, the kitchen was strictly utilitarian. We felt this was a good opportunity to introduce a contemporary element. USM Modular’s ethos and functionality made them a perfect partner. Utilizing discarded and upcycled pieces from the USM Long Island warehouse, we assembled a galley kitchen similar to those represented in the house’s original drawings. We partnered with Cara Green, using Paperstone for the countertops.
We adapted the USM system, designed primarily as modular shelving, for the kitchen, which presented some challenges. The end result was an incredible success, and the kitchen feels like part of the original design.
Design Within Reach, a partner in the interior restoration of the Wolfhouse, added a beautiful blend of furniture for a mix of mid-century and postmodern curation. The goal was to maintain the authenticity of the era while introducing postmodern design influences. By incorporating these carefully selected pieces, the interior of the house seamlessly combines the past and the present, creating a cohesive and visually stunning environment.
Project team: Jeremy Parker, Jiminie Ha, Juan Najara, Jack Friedman
Photos: Chris Daniele, Brian Ferry, Fahad Alhunaif
