Design Profile | Green Building - Historic Pine Street Passive House Retrofit

Located in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse-Fitler Historic District, 1722 Pine Street was originally built around 1845. In the 1920s, it was converted into a multi-family building with a ground-floor professional office, a three-story rear addition and new internal stairs. A century later, the building underwent another transformation. Under the guidance of the owner/architect team, Passive-House renovations gut-rehabbed the first floor while basement excavation and underpinning created a bi-level owner’s apartment and BluPath’s professional office. Upper apartments were reconfigured with new kitchens and bathrooms. A shared garden roof deck is capped with a solar PV-ready canopy. Extensive research drove the envelope design, including masonry moisture testing, and hygrothermal and Passive House energy modeling. The walls and roof are super-insulated using cellulose and mineral wool with “smart” air barrier membranes. Gas service was removed, and an all-electric building with LED lighting and Energy Star appliances was established. The technology-savvy and aesthetically sensitive design pays homage to its historical context, preserving the original façade design. Interior elements blend craftsmanship with artistic flare. Traditional millwork recalls the building’s history, while accent colors catch sunlight on the ground floor, animating the modern interior finishes and furnishings to bring the owners’ art collection and personalities to life. 

Project: Historic Pine St. Passive House Retrofit 

Location: Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia 

Client: Private Homeowner 

Project Size: 6,500 square feet 

Project Team:  

BluPath Design (Architect, Passive House Consulting)  

Kent Lessly Consulting (Passive House Consulting)  

Rivera Structural (Structural Engineer)  

Building Science Corporation (Consulting) 

Dragon Construction/Hivemind Construction (General Contractors) 

Arch Street Lighting (Lighting Supplier) 

Photos: Sam Oberter Photography