by Michael R. Allen
On May 10, the National Park Service listed in the Joseph and Ann Murphy Residence at 7901 Stanford Avenue in University City in the National Register of Historic Places. The Murphy Residence, owned by Joseph Murphy’s daughter Caroline and her husband Vincent DeForest, is one of St. Louis’ first truly modern residential designs. Completed in 1939 and expanded in 1950 and 1962, the home was key in introducing International Style-inspired modernist design to the St. Louis region. While Murphy became best known for his later work, including the Climatron and Olin Library at Washington University, this house represented an early accomplishment in his career and in the story of modern architecture in St. Louis.
Read the full text of my National Register of Historic Places nomination here.
One reply on “Murphy Residence Listed in National Register”
did Murphy ever build in DC? because there's a remarkably similar house in scale, materials and detail at the corner of 6th and South Carolina SE 20003. modern and spare, but warm and cozy.