A Modern Metallic Marvel in the Wissahickon

Photos by Sam Oberter

The wait was over.

After raising their family in a traditional residence in Northwest Philadelphia for many years, Leslie and Curt Pontz decided the time was right to follow their hearts and design their dream home, especially after they found the perfect site in the Wissahickon Valley. “I had always wanted to build a contemporary home,” says Leslie. And to make up for lost time, they wanted the process to go quickly.

“As soon as they had this site, they were ready to go,” recalls Jim Cassidy, principal of C2 Architecture, who, along with Calfayan Construction, made Leslie’s vision a reality. “We immediately jumped into designing this thing.”

They demolished the existing home on the site, fleshed out the designs, obtained construction permits, battled a bitter winter, and built the two-story abode in about a year — no small feat in Philadelphia, admits Curt. The result is a striking addition to the woodsy landscape in which life imitates art. Leslie says the contrast between the home’s exterior and its idyllic surroundings parallels her craft as a fiber sculptor: “When you put an element in there that’s not what you’re expecting, I think it always makes a louder statement. It really is what my work is all about.”

Though the tones in the home are mostly (and intentionally) monochromatic, Cassidy chose the yellow tiles by Heath Ceramics to add a bit of pop with a mid-century flair. Maple flooring is found throughout.

Habitat: Into the Woods

A square picture window provides a “vignette” of the landscape, notes Cassidy: “Anytime you walk toward the stairs, you’re aligned with that shot. You keep coming back to that aperture.”

Whether she and Curt are entertaining their large extended family or just sharing an everyday moment, Leslie says, the living space is comfortable.

Leslie’s studio space can be opened up to the rest of the living area or made private when needed thanks to a modern interpretation of sliding barn doors.

C2 Architecture and Design, Calfayan Construction

Lighter and darker gray panels of corrugated aluminum are dappled by sunlight and shadow from the mature trees. “I absolutely love it,” Leslie says of the facade. “And the windows are the perfect shade of cherry red.”