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Architecture News

Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market

By Anna Fixsen
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Image via Kurfiss Sotheby's International Realty
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Image via Kurfiss Sotheby's International Realty
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Image via Kurfiss Sotheby's International Realty
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Image via Kurfiss Sotheby's International Realty
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Image via Kurfiss Sotheby's International Realty
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Image via Kurfiss Sotheby's International Realty
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Image via Kurfiss Sotheby's International Realty
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Image via Kurfiss Sotheby's International Realty
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Image via Kurfiss Sotheby's International Realty
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Image via Kurfiss Sotheby's International Realty
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Image via Kurfiss Sotheby's International Realty
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
Iconic Vanna Venturi House on the Market
July 20, 2015

Architects & Firms

Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates

One of America’s most historically significant works of architecture is up for sale. Wednesday, the iconic Vanna Venturi House, what is broadly considered to be the first postmodern building, was listed for $1.75 million. 

Pritzker Prize-winning architect Robert Venturi built the residence for his mother Vanna in 1965. The house, located on a quiet one-acre plot in Philadelphia’s Chestnut Hill neighborhood, inevitably raised eyebrows then in its deviation from modernism, with its exaggerated pitched roof, an appliqué arch over the front door, and its playful take on rhythm and form. The 2,000 square-foot house includes three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, built-in bookshelves, generous windows, and a quirky-shaped fireplace tucked behind the grand staircase.

The house went on to inspire a generation of architects, and has been named one of the ten buildings that changed America. Fittingly, the building is also known as Mother’s House—in tribute to Venturi’s mother, and as a reference to its role in the emergence of postmodernism. 

In 1973, Mrs. Venturi sold the house to a history professor at University of Pennsylvania, it’s latest owner. The house was put up for sale once again for the first time in 43 years after much-needed repairs with consultation from Venturi himself, down to the original greenish-gray paint color.

You can schedule a showing here. For those with slimmer wallets, click through the slideshow above to explore.

KEYWORDS: Philadelphia Postmodernism Robert Venturi

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Anna Fixsen was a staff writer and editor for Architectural Record from 2013 to 2017, during which time she covered topics ranging from new projects to human rights, and edited Firms to Watch—a special section devoted to emerging architecture firms.

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