A ‘Parisian loft’ in Philly’s grande dame

The spectacular views of Rittenhouse Square from Thaddeus and Mindy Fortin’s condo were the main selling point when they bought their home in 2019. Their windows at 1830 Rittenhouse Square are flush with the green tree canopy, with the blue sky and white clouds above. Below, the couple can spot neighbors walking their dogs and watch the buzz of shoppers at farmers markets and art expos in the square.

The unit’s interior had been demolished down to the studs, with peeling plaster falling from the ceiling, dirt floors, and crumbling brick walls, and Mindy wished it hadn’t already been so stripped down. Still, she had a vision, “from the minute we walked in.”

She chose a layout conducive to hosting wine dinners, fundraisers for her favorite causes, and entertaining family friends, while also looking to highlight the historical aspects of their building. They already were living in the same building, in a smaller unit.

“Mindy wanted something that felt like a Parisian loft, chic and beautiful, but not overly polished,” recalled Michael Bianchi, owner of Phenotype Architects in Bryn Mawr, who took on the project.

But then the pandemic hit and contractors weren’t allowed into the building.

The solution: erect scaffolding on the outside of the building, and have the contractors climb up each day, loaded with materials they brought in through the window.

With some creativity and unorthodox solutions — including cutting their wooden island and drywall in half to make them fit — they brought in all the ingredients for their new home.

Built in 1912 as the first high-rise residential building on the square, 1830 Rittenhouse Square was designed by noted local architect Frederick Webber, known for designing apartment buildings throughout the city.

With stunning beaux arts detailing and a limestone facade, the landmark is affectionately known as the grande dame of the square. It remains one of the few buildings with human-operated elevators.

“That’s a unique feature that has a cache to it,” said David Fineman, founder of Fineman Management who managed the building from 1995 to 2024. “It also provides for additional security because someone has to take you up.”

The building’s cast iron entrance marquee, unique to buildings on the square, is also original to the building. In about 2003, pieces of the marquee began to fall off due to physical deterioration and alterations over the years, and needed to be repaired.

“The marquees were sophisticated, fashionable signature pieces that protected residents as they went out from the door to the curb,” said Marty Rosenblum, principal of Martin Jay Rosenblum, AIA & Associates, who spearheaded the project.

The entire canopy was removed in one piece by crane and transported by a flatbed truck to a foundry in Topeka, Kan. There, it was cleaned, lead paint was abated, and deteriorated elements were repaired and reinforced. After nearly eleven months of work, the marquee was restored to the building.

“We always tried to maintain all the historical features, even when upgrades were done,” said Fineman.

When the unit they now call home became available, the Fortins already loved 1830 Rittenhouse Square, appreciating its rich history, ornate design, and the care put into its maintenance.

Native Philadelphians, they spend most of their time in Delray Beach, Fla., coming to Philadelphia for the summer and other occasions throughout the year. They use the condo for hosting family and friends, particularly before and after Eagles games, as well as fundraising events.

Inspired by the condo’s view of the tree canopy, the bright sunlight flooding into the space, and the thrill of a blank canvas, they dove into renovating this unit.

With architect Bianchi’s help, and that of Ardmore-based home contractor Pinemar, the Fortins created a showplace in the 3,800-square-foot condo. The home features designer furniture and artwork in a unique mix of European and industrial design.

The priority was taking advantage of the view from 100 feet of windows overlooking the square, to form the entertaining space. Bianchi was able to create 3D renderings that gave Thaddeus a detailed view of his wife’s vision. Thaddeus is the retired CEO of Haas Group International, a chemical management company, and currently sits on boards for profit and nonprofit companies.

“We celebrated the original structure, trying to get that juxtaposition between black floors, industrial steel building structure, and visually strong and ornate moldings,” Bianchi said.

The couple were enthralled with the condo’s steel support beams, but they needed to find a way to make them fire safe. They worked with the fire coatings division at 3M to figure out the right product and application, said Bianchi, “rather than wrapping the beams in layers of sheet rock.”

The home opens to a bar and lounge, leading into the formal living room, with the den and dining room on either side. The primary suite is in the east wing, and the kitchen, guest suite, mudroom, and laundry are in the west wing.

An avid cook, Mindy designed the kitchen for function and beauty. The white walls and countertops are marble, and appliances include a Lacanche stove and two Sub-Zero refrigerators and freezers. The appliances and most shelving hide behind cabinet doors, with large unlacquered brass handles.

“I’m waiting for the brass to turn,” she said. “I like patina and things a little banged up.”

The dishes sit on open glass shelving surrounding the stove. Mindy created the island from what was originally a drapery table that she found on the website 1stDibs.

Studio Friedman, based in Fishtown, helped with the design. For Mindy, searching stores and websites for unusual finds is a labor of love. The brass and glass shelves in the library came from Amuneal’s Philadelphia location.

Mindy discovered a series of eight wallpapered panels depicting the Bay of Naples in Italy at Casa Gusto art gallery in West Palm Beach, Fla., and hung five on two adjacent walls in the lounge. Many accessories, including the vintage hand-blocked wallpapered screen in front of the library, came from Melangell Antiques in West Chester.

When choosing the wine refrigerator, Thaddeus wanted to veer away from something traditional, opting for more of an industrial look. He found the perfect fit at Heritage Metal Works in Downingtown.

“I wanted it to be a piece of art,” said Thaddeus, whose extensive wine collection includes one of his favorites, a 2016 Chappellet Pritchard Hill cabernet from Napa Valley.

Large unique lighting fixtures stand out in almost every room. The primary bedroom features a Fortuny chandelier, about 34 inches in diameter, primarily made of silk. The dramatic, 60-inch wide Libertine chandelier in the living room was handmade by British designer Mark Brazier-Jones and includes hundreds of crystals and brass-plated metal.

The main decorative moldings along the ceilings in the entertaining areas are made from long sections of plaster. Once installed, over 200 individual plaster dentils — small, evenly spaced blocklike details — were carefully added by hand along each section.

“That took a significant portion of the time,” said Thaddeus.

The window frames and glass were all individually crafted to meet the requirements of the historic building, and perfectly fit within the building’s historic masonry openings. Where possible, they kept the existing glass.

“Sadly there was so much demolition before we got here,” recalled Mindy. “I would have kept much more of the plasterwork but it just wasn’t salvageable.”