Metcalfe Architecture & Design recently completed the renovation of the Seidenberg House in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, USA. This previously restored mid-century modern kit house (fig. 1) takes full advantage of its pristine location in the lush woodlands of Southeastern Pennsylvania (fig. 2). We pushed the upper level of this structure into the treetops, transforming it into a house in the sky, with an expanded second-floor living space and entry (fig. 3), and renovated a kitchen, living areas, and bathrooms.
Photography: Halkin Mason Photography
We reconfigured the small, existing entrance into a skylittwo story entry hall, crossed by a glass footbridge on the second story (fig. 4). This hall now leads into the progressively more open kitchen (fig. 5), dining and living spaces (fig. 6). New windows in the kitchen (fig. 5) and dining area provide panoramic views of the outdoors. Photography: Halkin Mason Photography
The second story master bedroom (fig. 7, 7A) and bath addition (fig. 8) became a spacious, light-filled oasis in the treetops. With stunning views of the surrounding landscape, we created the appearance of a floating roof in the bedroom, using clerestory windows (fig. 9) and eight-foot-tall glass doors that open onto the suite?s cantilevered balcony (fig. 7). The steel and tempered glass (fig. 10) footbridge, fabricated by a local artisan, links the master bedroom and bath to the rest of the house.

As our clients shared, ?Everyone who sees the house thin...