A design team has transformed an old icehouse in West Chester into a gorgeous wine cellar inspired by the owners’ travels through Europe, writes Eileen Smith Dallabrida for Main Line Today. 

The icehouse was part of a stately house at Fernbank Farm. The residence was built in 1846 as a summer home for Philadelphia physician James Cheston Morris. Over the years, the icehouse fell into disrepair. 

When they acquired the home, Fernbank’s current owners envisioned an Old World-style wine cellar in its place. 

Archer & Buchanan Architecture found a way to repurpose the space and seamlessly integrate access to the home. The outbuilding now connects to the adjacent kitchen in the main house through a new connecting staircase. 

An arched tasting niche and wine racks found on the property were integrated into its stone walls. Meanwhile, the upper floor now features a large table and bar for entertaining. 

Extending 19 feet below ground, the wine cellar offers climate-controlled storage at a naturally maintained temperature of 58 degrees. 

“One of the delights of the opportunity to use this deep foundation is its passive thermal performance,” said Archer & Buchanan founding partner Richard Buchanan. 

Read more about the transformation in Main Line Today. 

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Another Archer & Buchanan Architecture transformation.