Buten House

Although my friend David Buten wanted a townhouse in the center of Philadelphia’s Center City, he did not have enough money. He found a ‘trinity’ property (3 floors 15 ft x 15 ft with a 15 ft back yard) and I convinced him to buy it along with the property behind it facing another street. I told him I would design his house and a separate unit in the rear property so that it’s rent would pay his mortgage. Aunque mi amigo David Buten quería una casa en el centro de Filadelfia, no tenía el suficiente dinero para poder permitírsela. Encontró una propiedad de tres plantas (4.5 metros x 4.5 metros más un patio trasero de dimensiones similares) y conseguí convencerle de que comprase la propiedad que se encontraba detrás de ella, accediendo por la otra calle. Le expliqué que le diseñaría su casa y un apartamento separado en la propiedad adyacente para que lo alquilara y que le permitiría pagar la hipoteca. My design for his house excavated under both houses to add another floor and added an extension into the back yards. David’s house occupies 4 floors on the north side and the basement floor under both buildings with a courtyard between. Mi proyecto incluía una planta excavada por debajo de ambas casa y añadía una extensión de ambas casas en el patio. La casa de David ocupa 4 plantas en el lado norte de la parcela y todo el nuevo sótano excavado con un patio en centro. Louis Sauer explaining the project of Buten House – Louis Sauer explicando el proyecto de la Casa Buten The decision of David Buten and Louis Sauer of dividing the project in two independent apartments (one for renting and the other for the own client) is essential to understand the relation between them. The access to the main house is from Naudain Street through a small hall that gives a access to the staircase and the study room. Going down to the basement (the main space), you will find the double height living room, which is opened to the courtyard.