A PHILADELPHIA HOME PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE CITY’S INDUSTRIAL PAST WHILE LOOKING TOWARD ITS VIBRANT FUTURE

BY ERIK SCHONING

In 2017, Jamie Gordon Brust purchased an abandoned manufacturing warehouse on Front Street in Philadelphia. The property was a relic of the Fishtown neighborhood’s industrial past, and as Gordon Brust began designing her family’s new home in the warehouse-style space, she knew she wanted to honor that history. The result is a head-turning showpiece, and as it hits the market for the first time, it’s sure to cause a stir.

Gordon Brust has made her name as a reinven tor: she reimagined the St. Laurent in Asbury Park, has converted firehouses into homes, and even her family residence in Asbury Park is a former funeral home. As a visionary designer, builder, and serial entrepreneur, Gordon Brust has established Harlow Grey Homes – a curated collection of luxury and unique rental properties. With each project, Gordon Brust maintains meticulous control over every aspect, from business strategy to construction. This home exemplifies her unwavering commitment to excellence. “My goal was to redefine the very concept of home,” said Gordon Brust. “In my designs, I strive to create a striking interplay of contrasts – where the unexpected takes center stage. From the street, they may appear understated, but step inside, and each space reveals itself as something truly breathtaking.”

What appears from Front Street to be another warehouse is packed with surprises inside. Gordon Brust has kept integral elements from the original warehouse structure the wooden ceiling trusses, the polished concrete floors – but everything else has been reimagined to infuse the space with homey charm.

Gordon Brust’s key idea here is “functional luxury,” and it’s a credo that makes even more sense when you consider that, at the time she designed the home, Gordon Brust and her partner were expecting their second child. She wanted to build a home that would be beautiful, but more importantly, liveable. Every detail of the space was meticulously curated for both elegance and longevity. A custom-designed, 14-foot marble table craned in with precision anchors the space, while rich leather furnishings add warmth and sophistication. Every fixture and finish was chosen for its timeless durability, ensuring a seamless blend of form and function. A striking glass loft, seamlessly integrated off the children’s bedrooms, serves as a dedicated play area, offering a refined yet playful retreat within the expansive open-concept design.

“I needed to design a space that was both practical for my lifestyle and uncompromising in its elegance,” said Gordon Brust. “That meant selecting materials with intention, because in a home with two small children, delicate linens and cascading drapes simply aren’t realistic. The challenge was to strike a balance: creating a high-end, architecturally significant space that also stands up to the demands of daily life.”

The kids weren’t the only ones whose tastes were considered, however. The home is an homage to Gordon Brust’s passions. As a designer and artist herself, she knew she wanted to bring in top-tier local talent to enliven the home with art. The central chandelier is the result of a collaboration between Gordon Brust and famed lighting artist Warren Muller. The custom installation is made out of repurposed sculpture and suspended from the three-story-plus ceiling. There is also a custom Philadelphia-inspired piece by local mixed-media street artist Amberella; in fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find any wall unadorned by some kind of art. Even the glass loft features a wall painted with magnetic tape for creative expression.

“I like to bring in local artists so that everyone feels that they have a hand on something that’s really progressive and exciting,” Gordon Brust said. “It’s a unique space, because it’s taking raw industrial charm and mixing it with the unconventional architecture that I’m known for. We really wanted to push the boundaries of what can be done with space.”

Gordon Brust is also a collector of wine and clothes, both of which were given special attention in the design. The main bedroom, in addition to a floor-to-ceiling fireplace and spa bathroom, features a 400-square-foot closet. And off the main living space is a glass-windowed wine cellar, designed as a kind of jewel box to display the bottles.

Glass, wood, concrete: the home is built around simple yet refined materials. To let in more light, Gordon Brust cut a two-story glass wall into the building. Expansive, front-to-back glass ceiling clerestory windows flood the space with natural light from three stories up, blurring the lines between indoors and out. Their industrial heritage is reimagined with a sleek, modern edge, offering uninterrupted sky views while enhancing the home’s grandeur. The pristine transparency of the glass creates an airy, gallery-like ambiance, allowing light to dance across the refined finishes and accentuating the architectural beauty of the space.

Double doors lead out to a European inspired garden of a yard, which features four-car parking, a fireplace, furniture, and an outdoor dining area. The yard spans the entire block and feels very much like an extension of the home; in the summer, those double doors stay open, lending the space the feel of a sprawling terraced country property, right in the middle of one of Philly’s most electric neighborhoods, home to award winning restaurants, bars, and a vibrant cultural scene.

“We’re right at the entry to Fishtown, one of the hottest neighborhoods in Philadelphia for food and beverage, retail, and the arts,” Gordon Brust said. “It’s a truly emerging neighborhood that has turned out to be incredible for us.”

For a designer and builder, there is no greater seal of approval on a property than to live there yourself. Gordon Brust helped usher a historic space into the modern age, and as she and her family move on to their next chapter, she knows the lucky new owners will write their own story within the treasured walls.

Harlow Grey Homes For inquiries about leasing or purchasing this exceptional property for commercial or residential, contact jamie@spaceandcompany.com