Holmes-Foster | Forster

Kent and Jean Forster were neighbors of Phil when they acquired property on the outskirts of town adjacent to Holmes-Foster Park on which to build their home. They decided that they wished for a contemporary design and eventually approached Phil about being their architect. They were thrilled with his design and were extremely happy to have had him do their plans. Later Kent became head of Penn State’s History Department, serving for many years. They then engaged Jean’s brother and Phil’s former student Tom Brown to design an addition for larger scale entertaining.

The lot was on a steep hillside, but worse was that a large rock ledge ran through the middle. Jean recalls that neighbors noted that Phil could be seen many times before completion of the design sitting in a lawn chair on the property studying the various patterns of the sun throughout the day. Phil’s solution was to center the house on the ledge, with a basement only under the rear portion. The living room was put on the park side and the street side was more traditional looking.

Window detail from around corner and entry porch.

Entry door by dining windows and stairs down with built-in buffet.

The dining room faces the front of the house. The main entry is to the right and the entrance to the galley kitchen can be seen to the left. The full height windows provide a view to an adjacent patio and front yard trees. There is no ceiling light as the Forsters always ate by candlelight.

Posts and poles provide an accent to divide the dining area from the living space. However, Hallock did not anticipate that grandchildren would love to swing from the poles, and the poles occasionally pop out of their sockets.

As common, Hallock used a raised hearth with a dominant fireplace wall. Also usual was a cathedral ceiling, here with exposed beams continuing across the dining area. The room does not have his frequent indirect lighting, as Jean did not like it. The window group is to the left of the fireplace and the dining area is to the right. Always the perfectionist, Phil himself laid the brick for the fireplace.

A section of the living room window group is shown, facing Holmes-Foster Park. The living room originally ended at the corner window, but was later enlarged for needed space.

A detail of the window group showing the frameless corner glass is pictured. Hallock loved this treatment, pioneered by Wright at Fallingwater.

Jean was doubly glad that Hallock provided spacious windows with a view when Kent became seriously ill.

Phil loved Wright’s work but disagreed with his Usonian homes concept that bedrooms need only be cells for sleeping, with minimal window ventilation.

A small office was provided for Kent off of a corner of the master bedroom.

A bureau and bookcase headboard were built-in and custom door pulls matched other rooms.

Kitchen and Bath; note the custom door pulls.

Family Room on ground level.

The original Hallock design is shown. Minor changes were made to the terrace screening and end wall, which were deleted. A later major change was to extend the living room to the left for enhanced space for entertaining.

The addition was designed by Jean’s brother and Hallock student and long-time employee, Tom Brown.

The room layout was implemented as shown, but as space needs increased, the basement garage was converted into additional living space as well as adding the living room addition.

The stone wall and steps were built by Kent using rocks found on the property.