The Harper

Philadelphia, PA

The Harper is a 24-story apartment building located a block away from Rittenhouse Square in the heart of Philadelphia’s Center City. The 2nd and 3rd floors open onto a two-story 12,200SF roof-top park. The levels of the park are connected by a sweeping stair, a focal point in its own right, which provides an outdoor connection between the major amenity spaces. The lower level features a soaking pool with a cascading waterfall, and an adjacent terrace is used for lounging, grilling, and outdoor dining. The upper level features a large central lawn with a fire pit, trellised dining terrace, and custom-designed swing benches that encircle the lawn. A fenced dog run is an additional amenity. Both levels are enlivened by lush plantings, which create a private oasis for the 169 Harper residences.

At street level, a small plaza frames a massive truss relocated from the theater that formerly occupied the site. A two-story mural extends from the street through the building, and vibrant container plantings reinforce the connection between indoors and out. At the third level, a green roof, designed to be seen from above, is patterned with alternating bands of sedum and stone. This roof, along with the amenity terraces, captures and stores rainfall, mitigating the impacts of stormwater run-off in this highly impervious urban site.

Photos by:  Halkin | Mason Photography