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FeedAgeless Architecture
An affinity for coastal design enlivens a Wayne abode.
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Jenkintown-based architect Mark Asher grew up spending summers with his family in Ocean City, N.J. Even as a child, he paid close attention to the houses in town. Little did he know that, decades later, he’d be designing the sort of Shore homes destined to be admired for generations to come.
When Asher struck out on his own 16 years ago, his first commission was the Ocean City Yacht Club, then a new clubhouse for the Avalon Yacht Club. Soon after, requests started coming in for homes in Avalon, Stone Harbor, Longport, Cape May and other Shore spots. He even opened a second office in Stone Harbor to accommodate the increased business.
“Many of my clients’ primary residences are on the Main Line or in the western suburbs,” Asher says. “So the idea that they can see me comfortably in both places is really a nice thing.”
Asher says his homes are designed with “a craftsmanship and richness in detail, enabling them to age gracefully, gaining character and beauty as years pass.”
“Our firm’s design ideology, inspired by new urbanist philosophies, is characterized by new buildings that not only respect historic vernacular but also have a deliberately gentle impact on streetscape and community,” he adds.
His commitment to beautiful designs that complement the surrounding area has led to a loyal client base. “We look at designing a home as: ‘How can we make this town nicer?’ Not just: ‘How can we give you a huge house with six bedrooms and a big Jacuzzi tub?’” he says. “It’s the idea of making the town nicer that really infuses the work we do.”
One couple was so impressed with the Avalon house Asher designed for them that they asked him to do the same for their primary residence on the Main Line. They’d previously lived on a 4-acre property in Malvern. But after their three children left the nest, the couple needed a more manageable, low-maintenance alternative. They lived in Wayne when they were first married, and they’ve had a fondness for the town ever since. “I like the idea of being able to walk into town with my husband to go to dinner or see a movie,” says the owner.
Since they weren’t interested in renovating an older home, the search was on for a place to build a custom home based on their wants and needs. After months of waiting, they found a ’60s-era brick split-level teardown in the center of Wayne. “It wasn’t a home that fit in with the grandeur and the beauty of the other older homes in the neighborhood,” says Asher.
It was Asher’s mission to design something that fit seamlessly into the neighborhood. His first step was photographing the nearby homes. “Every house has an impact on every other house,” he says. “I was looking to find the right DNA to extract from the neighboring houses to make a house that would repair the fabric of that street.”
The other homes in the neighborhood were in the Colonial, Federalist and Shingle styles, reflecting Wayne’s origins as a country getaway. “There’s almost a resort-style, turn-of-the-century feel—like homes you would see on the New England coast,” says Asher.
