Modernism In Your Neighborhood : Floor Add-Ons

There are still many pockets within the city limits of the District that are exempt from historic preservation review boards. This fact does not mean that any designer should not take the history and the existing context into consideration when designing additions or new buildings in these areas. It does not mean that a free-for-all is appropriate or even the most simply "slapped on" addition will do the trick. The triangular shaped block along Florida Ave. and 10th Streets NW in the Shaw neighborhood has several examples where existing townhouses have been added onto with an entire new third floor. One of the following four examples is a totally new building anchoring both of these blocks on the pointed end of the irregular shaped block. The block of 10th Street has a continuous row of very simple historic Federal front townhouses. These buildings are very narrow and were never intended to have a strong and dominating street presence. One of the houses is in the process of being added onto with a full third floor addition. It is obvious that everything seems to be a disaster here by the Stop Work signs in the windows. The existing cornice brick work which ties the entire block together, has been eradicated. Concrete block is placed on top of the existing brick wall and two new windows are placed in the wall. The windows relate to nothing of the existing proportions and the new height of the floor is completely disproportionate to the existing two floors. Everything that was significant about this house has been destroyed. This is an example of exactly what NOT to EVER do to your townhouse. On the Florida Avenue side of the block, a similar Federal front townhouse has been added onto as well. A full third floor was added, but from the front elevation, it was set back several feet. This separation allows for the original brick cornice line of the block to continue and not break up the simple rhythm of the street. It is clad in a completely difference material, horizontal wood cladding, which helps play down the new verticality. The rear of the house is where the great modern design comes in to play. Large amounts of glazing open up the interior of this narrow and now tall house. The significant historical aspects of this house were kept intact, and the new modern addition plays with the scale and adds a fantastic new architecture to the existing. The new and the old respect each other and compliment each other in the composition. A wider version of these Federal fronts is located on the 10th Street side. The original detailing has been restored and is celebrated with a contrasting color scheme. An entirely new third floor has been added. The proportions of the new windows keeps to the original scheme as does the surrounding brick work. The unfortunate part of this addition is the scale and massing. The massing of the new floor is way too tall compared to the existing floor heights. This condition make it feel extremely top heavy. The new floor has no formal cornice. If the new roofline somehow played with the original design of the cornice, the verticality would have been somewhat diminished, mitigating the top-heavy feeling. Still, the massing was totally an afterthought and has once again ruined the compatibility and composition of the new and old. The final building on this block is a new structure which occupies the triangular lot at the intersections of Florida Ave. and 10th Street. The massing is taller than the existing two rows of townhouses it backs up to, but on a typical city block, the concept of "bookending" is contextually typical. A taller and more massive building on the ends of the block can be a nice design element to any neighborhood. This townhouse picks up on the existing scales and proportions of its historic neighbors. The fenestration of punched openings works well with the existing facades. Towards the point of the lot, bays project from the angle of the street to hint at the dynamic intersection of both streets. These bays are constructed of glass and steel storefront systems which make them more delicate and more transparent. This creates an element of interest but keeps down the perception of heavy massing. This house is a great blend of modern elements and historic elements. Dynamic modern architecture sympathetic to the historic context is always a welcome addition to the block.

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Next Time, Have a Little Style with your Coffee!

For those of us that admit that we once found Starbucks exciting and stylish, no doubt in this era of coffeehouse giant world domination we are now finding the chain store a little hard to swallow. No doubt this is why the coffee chain introduced its Pike Place Blend this spring, signaling a return to basics and trying to lure coffee drinkers back. And back in February Starbucks closed over 7,000 stores for several hours to retrain baristas. Reports suggest, however, that the tactics aren't working, and patrons are becoming disenfranchised. If you count yourself among those for whom Starbucks has lost its allure, perhaps there's no better time to try some of the areas less frequented shops.

Illy is not a new name in the coffee world, and especially for anyone who has traveled abroad, the name is recognizable. But what you may not know is that the first Illy Cafe location opened up right here in Washington, DC -- a year ago in fact -- and has become a welcome respite from its prevalent counterpart. But in addition to serving up an authentic cappuccino (what us self-avowed coffee connoisseurs have to order 'dry' at Starbucks), Illy's West End 'Caffe' also serves up great design. And this is in no small part due to the company's philosophy for it's shops, what it characterizes as "the art of the Italian café culture". The company even refers to the role that architecture plays in their corporate branding on their website. And though small, the cafe, located at 1143 New Hampshire Ave NW (adjoined to the Marriott Renaissance), is big on style.









For those in search of coffee with a local flavor, Mayorga Coffee might just be what your craving. The Maryland based company offers up a handful of locations in the area, including the welcome addition to the Columbia Heights neighborhood in the Tivoli Theatre building (3303 14th Street, NW). Dedicated to sustainable growing methods and positive support of its growers, Mayorga's coffee can leave you feeling warm and fuzzy in more ways than one.
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H is for Housewares!

For those of us urbanites involved in the constant hunt for modern, handcrafted, chic, and useful elements to furnish our homes with, I have recently discovered a new boutique that is a must see. Nestled inside a new storefront on the bustling 14th Street NW corridor, Timothy Paul Bedding + Home welcomes the window shopper by allowing them to, for a few moments, peer at the window displays and feel as though they are looking in at a shop in SoHo. The goods are plentiful. Everything from hand crafted beds, tableware, bedding, seating, mirrors, and some of the most incredible glassware that can be found anywhere in the city is bursting with energy inside. Trends and Classics mix well with bright colors, luxurious materials and finely crafted elements. The design of the store itself follows the theme of well crafted design. The wall system is composed of perforated metal shelving anchored to a more organic composite wood that is sleek with a high gloss finish. The metal racks which delicately display the bed linens are also crafted to an organic curve to soften the structured and orderly display. The service desk is a rigid metal frame wrapped in screenwork. The countertop is a study in concrete surface that is somewhat bleached and embedded with glowing light blue shards of recycled glass. The three materials of dark metal, polished concrete and shards of glass all compose a very elegant and functional piece for the store, on casters no less! Do yourself a favor and stop by 1529A 14th Street, NW and indulge in the great eye candy on display and take a step further and indulge in that perfect piece to bring to your own home.

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On The Scene : Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams

It has been quite the week for socializing amidst good design. What better way to spend a balmy Wednesday evening than to attend the White Here White Now party at the super chic Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams furniture store on 14th Street in the Logan Circle neighborhood. Upon arrival, you were greeted with a streetside lounge complete with white lounge seating and white carpets. This outdoor room invited the inside guests to mingle with the outside urban energy of the street. Huge storefront windows beckon the passerby to peer inside to the one time auto showroom. Original details still remain with massive limestone clad columns and plaster ceiling designs and become an invigorating setting for the simple and chic furnishings that the store promotes. Inside several hundred urbanites were dressed to the nine in white and more white. A white chocolate martini fountain got the party started while the Legendary Lady Bunny directly from Manhattan spun the tunes behind the dj booth. Rumor had it she arrived by a white helicopter that parked on the rooftop. Gift bags topped off this spectacular event to promote the urban lifestyle and great ways to furnish it.

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On The Scene : G-Star

It is always a treat to go to an opening party for a new store in the city. This is one of the perks you get by living in an urban environment. People watching, socializing, cocktailing, dj spinning, and gift bags all the while being surrounded by great design. The G-Star store on Connecticut Ave. and R Streets that recently opened threw a great party to promote its sleek, modern, and raw Dutch clothing designs. This fashion house bases itself on urban and durable fabrics such as waxed canvas coats and stiff cotton jeans. Military and industrial themes rein in the stylistic content throughout the store. Picture a safari-warzone. This is the general aesthetic. The detailing and design of the store itself echos the inspired clothing line. Waxed canvas drapes and "jump seats" similar to those of the Land Rover Defenders, compose the fitting rooms. Stained steel panels line several accent walls. Fabricated steel racks and displays that are carved into the walls function for the displays. Haphazard lighting hangs from the ceiling and from underneath the metal shelving, creating a sterile and laboratory feel. The store may feel a bit raw, but that is the entire intention. The clothes themselves fit perfectly into the urban warzone where creative denizens enjoy playing the part. Everyone from editors at Washington Life Magazine, Fashonistas, and social scenesters like Svetlana at Brightestyoungthings enjoyed the revelry of the urban event. Great design is always a good way to start a party.

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Travel Log : St. Armands Key, Florida

The Sarasota School of Modernism plays a very important role in the significance of mid-century modern architecture. The area of central Florida still has many relics from this period. Drive-in motels with flashy pools and courtyards, automobile dealerships and showrooms, strip-malls (the first ones) and single family residences all themed for the age when people went "motoring" and sat poolside during their three martini lunches, turn up in most of these Floridian towns. Many have fallen into disrepair, but still retain some of that original glamour that they intended to evoke for the modern lifestyles of that age. Sarasota and the key islands that border it are no exception. Many of these mid-century residences are being restored to their original glory. The downtowns with the glitzy display cased storefronts are booming again with pedestrians. While these historic gems are having a revitalization, there is also a growing taste for today's modernist principles in design. New waterfront homes that are designed with the mid-century principles of open floorplans, simple materials, spaces that blur the lines between indoors and outdoors, and modest square footage are becoming more popular. One commercial space along the main drag through St. Armands Key, which is just beyond Sarasota, follows these new Floridian modern principles. Cork is a hot new winebar and lounge. The exterior storefront is a simple palate of glass, steel and stucco. The heavier masonry massing of the elevation gently wraps around the delicate glazing to create overhangs and balconies. The effect is a pulling of the passer-by into the spaces while encouraging the occupants to interact with the street scene. The entrance invites you into a very light-filled space with terrazzo surfaces and plenty of bright tropical colors which punctuate individual walls to create boundaries rather than enclosures to the spaces. The first floor is more of a cafe welcoming visitors in from the Florida heat during the day. Evening hours bring people up to the second level to engage in a more intimate and loungy atmosphere. A central open riser stair, transparent glass rails and countertops flank a orange tiled wall which connects the upper and the lower spaces. The lounge combines rich wood panels, dark leathers and fabrics with more luxe seating banquettes. The lighting here is through a series of clerestory windows and the light filtered through a mobile screen floating in the stairwell. Glass panels create a flow of this space to the exterior balcony space. Here the loungers can interact with the vibrancy of the evening street culture. These spaces combine the public of the street with the intimacy of the lounge as well as the old Florida lifestyle with the new.
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HERE AND NOW

Finally DC has caught on to the fact that installation art makes a HUGE scene, and creates a wonderfully intoxicating buzz around it. Transformer Gallery has invited a crew of modern artists and thinkers to take over the raw and vast warehouse space on the corner of 14th and T Streets, NW, and saturate it with art that creates an experience, makes you think, question, and become inspired by something that you never expected. If you have not yet wandered through, you MUST. It is open Wednesday-Saturday 1pm-7pm T Street entrance in the graffiti covered building. It is open until May 24. Pictures of DC as background to several dozen hanging fishbowls invokes the thought that maybe we all live in a fishbowl? The room without walls casts shadows of the ephemeral, follow the path of raked glowing rice though the space where other semi-non-spaces exist. Color, Layer, and mass in several other installations add to the oddness of the former church spaces. The fourth floor penthouse is a fantastic light filled space that glorifies building decomposition, and celebrates it by integrating color, translucency and organic form to the infrastructural weatherings and failures. It is always a trip to venture into an experience that takes your thoughts to another level. Here and Now. Go There and be Wowed.
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Travel Log : San Francisco

...continued from previous two posts. This will be the final post on my adventures and discoveries in San Franciso, California. That trip yielded an abundance of possible blog posts for this site, but I chose the buildings that most inspired me. The integration of historic San Francisco and modern San Franciso side by side and mixed into each neighborhood created the feeling of a very significant history along with a very modern city. The following pictures are just some glimpses of other buildings that caught my eye and added significant modern design to the ever changing cityscape.
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Travel Log : San Francisco

...continued from previous post. The Mission District in the city, especially along Valencia Street, is a hip and funky neighborhood just like DC's 14th Street corridor. Vintage shops, cool restaurants, independent designer's storefronts, and some new innovative architecture make this place a must see. The following townhouse is really sleek in it's use of modern materials and how they are implemented to define the varied massing. Commercial and industrial finishes are softened by simple bamboo stalks and a more human scale to the overall composition by the use of plenty of outdoor spaces. Here the old and the new can each stand on their own merit, while giving nods to each other by way of massing and bay structures. This is a great example of how modern architecture next to historic architecture adds interest to the neighborhood, rather than diminishing its significance.
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Travel Log : San Francisco

During my week in San Francisco, I was inspired by many modern houses. Many of these were infill buildings built along side of more traditionally historic buildings. The interplay with classic townhouse forms between the old and the new was the connection to the past, while the juxtaposition of the very modern materials against the old gave these places a stunning prominence. The modern houses all had one common element; they were designed to capture the amazing views and to celebrate the landscape. The next few posts will be of a particular building, or a series of buildings in a particular neighborhood. The first is of a house high above the Castro neighborhood.
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