Rittenhouse Square apartment building a gracious neighbor
Philadelphia, PA (September 2019) – DAS Architects, an award-winning hospitality, retail and residential design firm, is pleased to announce the completion of The Harper, a luxe wellness apartment experience with Pearl Properties.
The Harper is a 280,000-square-foot, 24-story building, located at 112 S. 19th Street, a block away from Rittenhouse Square and in the center of the Rittenhouse neighborhood’s dynamic shopping and restaurant scene. It features 167 unique residential units, a ground-floor restaurant, underground parking, and first-class amenities.
The building entrance and lobby is highlighted by a 110’-long, restored 19th century steel truss. The second floor features a residents’ area including co-working lounges, yoga and fitness center, indoor basketball court, media and game room, and a special event room with a gourmet style kitchen. The 2nd and 3rd floors open onto the 12,200-square-foot roof-top park with mature trees, heated soaking pool, deck, lounge and grilling areas. Atop the tower on the 24th floor is a club room with kitchen and sky deck featuring views of the city.
“The architecture was inspired by the rich character and multi-dimensional context of the neighborhood,” said David A. Schultz, AIA, co-founder and principal of DAS Architects. “The building’s height and scale, along with the crafted façade design, is the right fit for this Philadelphia neighborhood, and the open-air courtyard entrance is a genial ‘welcome home’ for residents.”
Photo courtesy of DAS Architects
The courtyard introduces a two-story mixed media mural by Philadelphia artist Edward McHugh titled Linda’s Symphony in Green and Blue. Commissioned by Pearl Properties, the piece spans the courtyard entry through to the interior lobby space.
“The lobby has a motion-inspiring paving pattern with soft, modern furnishings,” said Susan M. Davidson, IDC, co-founder and principal of DAS Architects. “From the lobby, a sculptural stair of steel and stone takes you to the co-working and lounge areas on the second floor. Vibrant modern-style, fabric-covered lounge pits and unique furnishings throughout, along with ‘floating rooms without walls’ encourage a strong social scene for the residents. Definitely one of the most beautiful, comfortable places to live in the city, an integral part of the ‘Circle around the Square’.”
The apartment’s name was inspired by James Harper, 19th century Irish immigrant, brick manufacturer, a founder of the Franklin Institute, Rittenhouse Square’s first developer and a congressman. He came to own much of Rittenhouse Square in the mid-1800s and set the standard for residential refinement with his own house, now the Rittenhouse Club, where he hosted Lafayette and other leaders, politicians and captains of industry. Married to a Quaker, he left Congress in 1837 when he could no longer bear the corruption of the Jackson administration.
DAS Architects
DAS Architects is a nationally-recognized design firm that seamlessly integrates architecture, interior design and furniture procurement. The hospitality-driven concept of creating the ultimate guest experience informs all of the firm’s work, which includes more than three hundred signature restaurants, hotels, resorts, shops, and luxury multifamily projects from Maine to Florida. Studio DAS is an affiliate company that finds and creates unique finishes and custom furnishings for clients. Founded in 1990, DAS Architects is based in Philadelphia with a staff of twenty architects and interior designers. Visit www.dasarchitects.com.
