About 857 Briarwood Rd
PROPERTY HIGHLIGHTS
Main Line location in Radnor Township
Radnor School District
2.66-acre private homesite surrounded by mature woodland
5,500± sqft Main House and 550± sqft Pool House Mid-Century Modern residence
Rear-facing architectural façade oriented toward the natural landscape
Walled private motor court
Walls of glass, skylights & soaring ceilings
Pool + separate pool house / dwelling
Pool house includes bedroom, full bath, living area & kitchen — ideal as an in-law suite, guest house or private retreat
A rare architectural offering on Philadelphia's Main Line. Set at the end of a long, private drive in sought-after Greene Countrie, 857 Briarwood Road offers an extraordinary combination of Mid-Century Modern architecture, privacy, and indoor-outdoor living.
Originally built in 1966 by local developer Robert Balbirnie, the approximately 6,050-square-foot residence (5,500± sqft Main House and 550± sqft Pool House) was designed as a private compound for sophisticated living and entertaining. Unlike a traditional street-facing home, its architectural façade faces the rear of the property, creating a dramatic and highly private relationship with the surrounding landscape.
A striking walled motor court provides a distinctive sense of arrival, while expansive walls of glass, sliding doors, skylights, and soaring ceilings bring natural light and the wooded setting into the home. Generous entertaining spaces and wet bars reflect the home's original design for gatherings and sophisticated living.
The property also features a pool and separate pool house, offering exceptional flexibility for guests, extended family, or multi-generational living. With a bedroom, full bathroom, living area, and kitchen, the separate dwelling could serve as an in-law suite, guest house, pool house, or private retreat.
The home's distinctive geometric design has long drawn comparisons to the work of I.M. Pei, and according to the property's history, Balbirnie and Pei are believed to have spoken during the home's design. Whether influence or coincidence, the architectural connection adds another fascinating layer to this one-of-a-kind residence.
An authentic 1960s architectural statement, a private compound, and a truly distinctive Main Line offering — 857 Briarwood Road is a home unlike any other.
