philip johnson's 1940s wolfhouse gets restored as a cultural space

wolfhouse restoration completes in newburgh, new york

Wolfhouse is a classic mid-century modern home in Newburgh, New York, built in 1949 by the preeminent American architect Philip Johnson and commissioned by Benjamin V. Wolf. With panoramic views of the Hudson River, Wolfhouse bears much in common with Johnson’s most famous home, The Glass House, erected the same year. Meticulously restored from 2020-2023 by creative director Jiminie Ha and artist Jeremy Parker, the residence has been reimagined as a cultural space with year-round arts programming exploring the intersection between digital and physical arts. Today, following a collaboration with USM Modular Furniture, Wolfhouse announces its completed restoration with a sustainably-built kitchen made from recycled and reused USM parts.

image © John Daniel Powers, via Wolfhouse on Instagram

restoring the philip johnson design to its past glory

In 2020, Jiminie Ha and Jeremy Parker purchased Wolfhouse, which echoes Philip Johnson’s hallmark architectural style: open-plan homes with seamless circulation and plate glass walls offering expansive views of the surrounding natural landscape. The duo decided to restore the structure to its original condition, referencing the actual floor plans archived at Columbia University’s Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library. While faithful to the original floor plan, the kitchen’s cabinetry provided an opportunity for some creative license. The owners sought steel options, a common material in mid-century kitchen cabinetry, and found USM a natural choice for the kitchen rehab. USM Modular Furniture collaborated with the owners to design a kitchen that acknowledges both the home’s past and future with a popular mid-century color palette yet entirely constructed of pre-owned and recycled USM parts to create the first sustainability-built USM kitchen.

image courtesy Wolfhouse

owners jiminie ha & jeremy parker’s sustainable & inclusive vision

As creative directors, Ha and Parker prioritize sustainability and inventive self-sufficiency within their practice. They have extended this to every detail of the home’s rehabilitation and interior design, sourcing vintage furnishings and salvaged architectural pieces to finish the restoration, which included sinks, tubs, and trim elements. ‘We recognize the harmful effects of planned obsolescence. It’s our responsibility as designers to lead with smart sustainability at the forefront of our practice, not creating more waste, but working with what we already have,’ notes Jiminie Ha. With a desire to avoid ‘new’ materials and seek lasting products, USM Modular Furniture proved to be the perfect partner for the Wolfhouse kitchen. USM products are known for their longevity and are built from steel, a highly recyclable material.

As the Wolfhouse enters this new phase of ownership and context, its owners aim to include the narrative of all who took part in the home’s history. Ha and Parker, active members of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, have worked to reimagine the Wolfhouse as an inclusive cultural space with year-round arts, design, and architecture programming. This includes exhibitions, residencies, events, lectures, and a robust digital program supporting commissions and collaborations in web3.