After 25 years spent working for a variety of notable firms, husband and wife Mimi Converse Winkler and James Winkler became partners in their own practice – Converse Winkler Architecture, LLC. Their six-person firm based in Bala Cynwyd, PA, has completed designs for schools, corporate offices, institutions, and residential clients. The firm’s award-winning work has been recognized for its ability to evoke emotions and create a welcoming sense of place.
“Our style is a synthesis of modern architecture with regional traditions and the expression of materials,” describes Jim. The firm prefers strong forms and dynamic interior spaces with varied textures, and enjoys referencing the vernacular architecture of the Philadelphia region. Influence is drawn from Pennsylvania stone farmhouses to Picturesque English cottages to Craftsman bungalows, culminating in an eclectic contemporary blend that references the past while offering something new. “We see ‘placemaking’ as the ability to meet client aspirations while adding an element of delight,” Mimi elaborates.
A recent retirement community design illustrates the firm’s architectural philosophy. The forty-house development included four residential models – each with the capacity for owner personalization. Sets of additive design elements could be incorporated in whole, or in part, to each house. This layering of detail is often part of Converse Winkler designs, in which an overall form dominates, but careful detailing is also apparent. The community design paid careful attention to site planning, another hallmark of the firm’s work. Houses were spaced to relate to one another and to a central green space, promoting a sense of community. Construction utilized local, natural materials. Regular focus group meetings kept residents informed about progress.
Converse Winkler Architecture maintains a collaborative office and an open relationship with clients. Jim and Mimi hold in high regard their ability to listen to, and understand, their clients, so that together they can create beautiful places for people to enjoy.
