May 28

 

Kevin Wolfe

By admin-talkdesign

May 28, 2025


Kevin Wolfe is an award-winning architect, landscape designer, and journalist, highly respected for his skill in renovating old houses, particularly those from the early 20th century in the New York City region. He possesses a unique talent for uncovering and restoring the "heart and soul" of historic homes, even those that have suffered from years of poor renovations. His expertise lies in seamlessly blending restoration, renovation, and additions, allowing him to capture the unique essence of each property while simultaneously updating it for comfortable modern family living, with the kitchen often becoming the central hub.

Beyond his design work, Kevin is an expert in navigating the rigorous Landmarks Preservation Commission review process in New York City for historically designated buildings. His impressive track record includes a 100% approval rate on first submissions for all projects since establishing his firm in 1998. He actively shares his knowledge and passion for historic preservation by teaching in the Master of Science program in Historic Preservation at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, where his "man on the street" classes are particularly popular. He's also a prominent advocate for historic preservation in New York City, serving on several prestigious boards and committees, and successfully leading efforts to designate the Douglaston Historic District and the Douglaston Hill Historic District in Queens.

Kevin's professional background is extensive, having been trained as both an architect and a landscape architect and practicing since 1988. He has worked with esteemed firms in New York City such as Rafael Vinoly Architects and Kohn Pedersen & Fox Interior Architects. Additionally, he is a prolific writer, contributing articles on architecture, interior design, landscape design, and historic preservation to various publications including Garden Design and Metropolis. He has also contributed to several books and authored This Salubrious Spot—100 Years at Douglas Manor. Currently, he is penning House Stories, a book about his own garden and architectural design work. His academic achievements include a Master of Architecture from Columbia University, a Master of Arts from Clark University, a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from The City College of New York, and a Bachelor of Arts from Holy Cross College.

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