THE PHILIP CORBIN MANSION

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Philip Corbin, the founder of P&F Corbin, a prominent manufacturer of decorative hardware, built this grand Queen Anne mansion in 1891. However, after a hundred years, the building was subdivided into apartments and covered with aluminum siding, and much of its exquisite detailing was obscured and lost. Design Associates undertook a comprehensive restoration project, meticulously recreating the lost ornamentation, architectural details, and historic colors, thereby successfully restoring the "Grand Lady of Ocean Park" to its original appearance. In recognition of this extensive and detailed effort, the Boston Society of Architects awarded the project the “Excellence in Architecture” award in 1996.

Tragically, the house was consumed by a fire in February 2001. Design Associates led the reconstruction, ensuring it matched the original Queen Anne residence, including the recreation of door hardware in tiger-striped bronze, mimicking examples from Philip Corbin's company. Meg Prendergast of Meg Prendergast Hospitality, and Thomas Wirth Associates, a landscape architecture firm in Sherborn, MA, contributed the finishing touches to the interior and exterior.