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About this home

The Rhode Residence, a visually stunning & remarkably preserved historic 1 Story Mid-Century Modern architectural gem in sought-after Rydal, Pennsylvania, is being offered for sale for only the 2nd time since it was designed & built in 1957. Located in the Philadelphia suburbs in Abington Township, an A Rated Blue Ribbon school district. Designed by Carlos Joseph Alvaré (1924–2017), the prominent Cuban-born architect who worked directly under & was mentored by Louis Kahn from 1947–1951, the home carries an extraordinary architectural pedigree. Alvaré earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Yale, where Oscar Niemeyer served as his senior thesis advisor & Le Corbusier judged his final project & received his Masters from UPENN. Few architects can claim direct connections to 3 of the most influential figures in twentieth-century modern architecture. Inspired by Kahn & contemporary modernist masters, Alvaré designed award-winning homes featuring Pennsylvania fieldstone facades, open-flowing layouts, exposed structural elements, custom millwork, expansive windows, & dramatic ten-foot walls of glass that blur the lines between indoor living & the natural landscape. He emphasized thoughtful siting, light-filled spaces, & Japanese-inspired landscape design. The Rhode Residence is one of the finest surviving examples of Alvaré’s residential work. Commissioned by Meyer & Rhea Rhode, longtime patrons of Philadelphia’s arts community. Set on a professionally landscaped & private .72 acre lot, this provenance-rich property combines dramatic architecture, privacy, landscape design, & original period details with thoughtful updates including roof, HVAC, kitchen, baths, electric, HWH, flooring, lighting, interior & exterior painting, landscaping, landscape lighting, hardscaping, & a custom glass garage door. Owned by a professional artist, the home has been meticulously preserved. Offering 1 level living, the residence features 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 2 stone wood-burning fireplaces, a living room, family room can also be a den or office, & an oversized detached 2-car garage. From the moment you enter, the defining architectural elements reveal themselves: dramatic ten-foot walls of glass, exposed original Douglas Fir ceiling beams, original tongue-&-groove ceilings, abundant natural light, & exceptional storage. Every major living space maintains a direct visual connection to the surrounding gardens, terraces, & mature landscaping. The exterior setting is equally impressive. Multiple Bluestone patios, terraces, courtyards, a deck with pergola, koi pond, landscape lighting, & Pennsylvania fieldstone walkways create a series of outdoor rooms designed to engage with the landscape from nearly every angle. One of the property's most notable provenance details is a custom stone landscape wall completed by a landscape architect responsible for portions of the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s landscape walls along Kelly Drive. Rydal remains one of Montgomery County’s most sought-after neighborhoods, known for mature trees, large lots, architectural diversity, & exceptional access to Center City Philadelphia. The Rydal SEPTA station is approximately one minute away by car, an eight-minute walk, or two-minute bike ride. Around the corner amenities include Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Target, Starbucks, Wawa, restaurants, shopping, parks, golf courses, Abington Hospital, Holy Redeemer Hospital, Alverthorpe Park, Lorimer Park, and PHS Meadowbrook Farm. Opportunities to own a largely intact Mid-Century Modern home designed by a Kahn protégé with direct educational connections to Yale, UPENN, Niemeyer, & Le Corbusier are increasingly rare. The Rhode Residence is far more than real estate. It is a work of art, a preserved architectural artifact, & a rare opportunity to experience an important chapter of Philadelphia’s modernist legacy. The home was recently appraised at $980,000 by an appraiser specializing in Mid-Century Modern homes.

Facts & features

Interior

Bedrooms
3
Bathrooms
2 full
Living area
2,328 sq ft
Heating
Forced Air, Heat Pump(s), Energy Star Heating System, Zoned
Cooling
Central A/C, Ductless/Mini-Split, Energy Star Cooling System, Programmable Thermostat, Zoned

Property & construction

Property type
Residential
Architectural style
Mid-Century Modern, Ranch/Rambler
Year built
1957

Lot & parking

Lot size
0.72 acres (31,366 sq ft)
Garage
2 spaces

Financial

Price / sq ft
$421
HOA dues
None

Listing details

MLS #
PAMC2182210
County
Montgomery County
School district
Abington
Days on market
19 days

Price history

DateEventPrice
Jun 5, 2026Listed for sale$980,000

Price changes are tracked from when NookLocal first indexed this listing; earlier history may not appear. Tax & assessment details are in the section below.

What this home really costs in taxes

Estimated at current rates

$9,176 / year

$765 per month

MLS shows (2025)

$9,177

School tax

ABINGTON · 38.55 mills (2025-26)

$6,981

County tax

Montgomery County · 5.95 mills (2026)

$1,078

Municipal tax

As recorded for 2025 — varies by municipality

$1,117

Assessment note: this home is assessed at $181,100 — well below the ~$301,448 its asking price implies at Montgomery County's common level ratio (30.8%). A sale near asking can invite a school-district assessment appeal that could raise the bill by roughly $5,356/year. Worth pricing in.

Recomputed from the county assessment ($181,100, 1996 base year) × current millage — portals typically reprint the recorded 2025 bill. Pennsylvania does not reassess on sale. Estimate only — verify with Montgomery County before relying on it. Learn more: PA property tax calculator · Common Level Ratio by county.

Where it sits

Open in Google Maps
Map for 1220 SUSQUEHANNA, RYDAL, PA 19046

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Information Deemed Reliable But Not Guaranteed

The data relating to real estate for sale on this website appears in part through the BRIGHT Internet Data Exchange program, a voluntary cooperative exchange of property listing data between licensed real estate brokerage firms in which United Real Estate Strive 212 participates, and is provided by BRIGHT through a licensing agreement.

IDX listings are displayed pursuant to broker of record United Real Estate Strive 212 — Frank Ramos, Broker/Owner, PA Broker License RM424345, 1220 Broadcasting Rd, Suite 201, Wyomissing, PA 19610, (610) 372-0212.

The information provided by this website is for the personal, non-commercial use of consumers and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.

Some properties which appear for sale on this website may no longer be available because they are under contract, have Closed or are no longer being offered for sale.

Data last updated: June 24, 2026 at 2:29 PM EDT

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