Large scale custom projects in Haverford. Additions, renovations and new homes
Clarity Building Group enjoys building in Haverford because the town captures so much of what makes the Main Line architecturally distinctive: dignified stone colonials, Tudor-inspired homes with steep rooflines, gracious porches, and thoughtfully sited houses set back along leafy streets and larger lots. There is a timeless quality to Haverford that rewards careful design, whether the work involves a new custom home, a seamless addition, or a whole-home renovation shaped to feel as though it has always belonged there.
From the established character around Lancaster Avenue to the academic landscape of Haverford College and the residential fabric near College Avenue, the area offers a strong sense of place that calls for proportion, material integrity, and respect for neighborhood context. We especially appreciate projects here that balance historic character with modern living, all while being coordinated through Lower Merion Township’s building and planning review process.
Architectural Inspiration Found Throughout Haverford
The homes and properties referenced here were not built, renovated, or restored by Clarity Building Group, and are shared only as inspiring examples of the craftsmanship, architectural character, and design heritage found in Haverford.
Dolobran: 231 Laurel Lane
- Architect/Builder Duo: Frank Furness (Architect) / Clement A. Griscom (Developer-Owner)
- Project Summary: Built between 1881 and 1895, this 17,000-square-foot Victorian Gothic mansion is arguably the most significant residence in Haverford. Originally designed as a Shingle Style retreat, it evolved into a massive stone-and-brick masterpiece featuring Furness’s signature "muscular" chimneys and ornate millwork, serving as the home for the president of the American Steamship Company.
- See where it is on Google Maps
Allgates: Coopertown Road
- Architect/Builder Duo: Wilson Eyre (Architect) / Horatio Gates Lloyd (Client)
- Project Summary: Completed in 1912, Allgates represents the pinnacle of the English Arts and Crafts style on the Main Line. Its restrained stucco exterior and asymmetrical layout, combined with gardens designed by the Olmsted Brothers, marked a shift away from Victorian excess toward a more integrated, "organic" country living experience.
- See where it is on Google Maps
Cheswold (The Cassatt Estate): Off Grays Lane
- Architect/Builder Duo: Furness & Evans (Architects) / Alexander J. Cassatt (Developer-Owner)
- Project Summary: As the home of the President of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Cheswold was the social anchor of Haverford. Built in 1872, this Queen Anne villa set the precedent for the "summer retreat" lifestyle, influencing the development of the surrounding Cheswold Valley into one of the town's most historic pockets.
- See where it is on Google Maps
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Roslin House: (Near Haverford College)
- Architect/Builder Duo: William Lightfoot Price (Architect / Design-Build)
- Project Summary: Built in 1911 for Horace B. Forman Jr., this residence is a masterwork of the Arts and Crafts movement, emphasizing natural materials and local Wissahickon schist. Price’s "design-build" approach ensured that the structural integrity and aesthetic vision were perfectly aligned, creating a home that appears to grow directly from the Pennsylvania soil.
- See where it is on Google Maps
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A LIST OF RESPECTED CUSTOM BUILDERS IN HAVERFORD
Finding Your Fit: Selecting a Builder Based on Your Project Goals and Team Structure.
1. Estate-Scale Custom Home Builders
These builders focus on high-end estate homes and architecturally significant properties in Haverford. Projects are typically detailed and design-intensive.
Best Suited For:
- Estate residences with architectural complexity
- High-end custom construction
- Architect-led builds with refined detailing
2. Custom Renovation and Addition Specialists
These firms concentrate on preserving and upgrading existing homes while expanding their functionality.
Best Suited For:
- Renovating architecturally significant homes
- Adding space without disrupting character
- Interior and structural improvements
- Projects requiring preservation awareness
3. Design-Build Firms
Design-build companies offer integrated design and construction services.
Best Suited For:
- Clients seeking efficiency
- Projects with overlapping phases
- Homeowners preferring a unified team
WHAT IT MEANS TO BUILD AND RENOVATE IN HAVERFORD.
In Haverford, the prevailing housing stock ranges from early stone farmhouses and estate-era residences to 1920s–1940s Colonial Revival and Tudor houses, with postwar Cape Cods and split-levels filling out later neighborhood growth; that mix often means masonry repair, plaster and framing irregularities, aging foundations, and careful integration of new insulation, mechanicals, and additions without flattening original proportion or detail. Renovation work commonly turns on lot coverage, impervious-surface and plot-plan review for additions, while historically designated properties can trigger Historical Commission scrutiny and Board review for exterior changes or demolition.
HAVERFORD
WORKING WITH ARCHITECTS IN HAVERFORD
Choosing a Design Team That Reflects Architectural Character
Haverford is known for its established estates and architecturally significant homes, requiring designers experienced in both preservation and refined additions. The right fit depends on your design preferences, project scope, and expectations for budgeting. Establishing alignment early helps create a clear and cohesive design process.
Design Firms Shaping Homes in Haverford
Architects in Haverford are typically retained directly by homeowners prior to selecting a builder. Clarity Building Group often joins during design development, collaborating with independently selected architects to move projects into construction. Below are several firms active in and around Haverford. Reviewing their portfolios can help determine alignment with your goals.
Please note: Clarity Building Group has not necessarily collaborated with every firm listed. Each operates independently. We welcome opportunities to work with architects whose work reflects Haverford’s architectural tradition.
Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd
125 West Miner Street, West Chester, PA 19382 | (610) 692-9112 | archerbuchanan.com
Period Architecture, Ltd
53 Church Road, Malvern, PA 19355 | (610) 719-0101 | periodarchitectureltd.com
VMA (Voith & Mactavish Architects)
2401 Walnut Street, 6th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103 | (215) 545-4544 | voithandmactavish.com
John Milner Architects
104 Lakeview Drive, Chadds Ford, PA 19317 | (610) 388-0111 | johnmilnerarchitects.com
MAMO Architects
50 Rittenhouse Place, Ardmore, PA 19003 | (484) 412-8117 | mamoarch.com
Asher Slaunwhite + Partners (AS+P)
115 West Avenue, Suite 305, Jenkintown, PA 19046 | (215) 576-1413 | asparchitects.com
Peter Zimmerman Architects
828 Old Lancaster Road, Berwyn, PA 19312 | (610) 647-6970 | pzarchitects.com
John Toates Architecture and Design
914 North Valley Forge Road, Devon, PA 19333 | (484) 725-7978 | toatesarchitecture.com
Juliet Koczak Architect
Elm Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081 | (445) 234-4464 | koczak.com
R.A. Hoffman Architects
55 Plank Avenue, Paoli, PA 19301 | (610) 889-0660 | hoffman-architects.com
Northworks
8020 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118 | (267) 669-0745 | northworks.com
PMcAD (P. McDonough Architecture & Design)
528 Kennett Pike, Fairville Village, PA 19317 | (484) 888-8084 | patmcdonougharch.com
Warren Claytor Architects
114 North Wayne Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087 | (610) 688-1744 | warrenclaytorarchitects.com
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A NOTE ON FIT