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On the market: An architect’s three-bedroom townhouse off Passyunk Square for $725,000

"The house doesn’t scream for attention," the owner says. "Our world’s already a little too hectic and overwhelming.”

The house features a Brazilian switchback staircase.
The house features a Brazilian switchback staircase.Read moreMichael Brock

Since his parents emigrated from Rome to South Philly in 1964 with three sons, Ivano D’Angella has lived there, in the Newbold neighborhood and other areas close by.

His wife, Patricia Muller, is a native of South Philly. But D’Angella, an architect and an architecture professor at Thomas Jefferson University, has left his particular stamp on no fewer than four houses that he has renovated in one block in the Passyunk Square neighborhood, including his current townhouse.

“It’s a contemporary style,” he says. “And it’s an attempt to be as quiet as possible. The house doesn’t scream for attention. Our world is already a little too hectic and overwhelming.”

And he’ll carry over the same aesthetic to his new house in South Philly, although the decision to move is highly practical: more room for himself and Muller, a dental hygienist; his in-laws; his Staffordshire/hound mix and playing area for same; plus a two-car garage.

His current three-bedroom, two-bath house dates from 1920 but was gutted and rebuilt when he bought it three years ago.

It has an open living room with a modern steel beam and Brazilian switchback staircase, and a chef’s table eat-in kitchen with quartz countertops, wall oven, microwave, gas cooktop, and wet bar.

The second floor has two large bedrooms, a tile bath, a Duravit dual flush toilet, and a large frameless glass shower.

The third-floor owners’ suite has a large bedroom and a front bath with walk-in shower, soaking tub, sauna, and private terrace.

The rooftop terrace has a large pilot house with wet bar, pantry, under-counter refrigerator, and microwave.

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Decks face both north and south. The basement has a laundry room, full bath and den.

The house, which has 1,810 square feet, is surrounded by an array of shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues and is a half-block from Columbus Square Park.

It is listed by Bruce Benjamin of Compass Pennsylvania for $725,000.