PROJECT  70's Reno and Thought Bubble

LOCATION Washington, District of Columbia, US​

ARCHITECT Donald Lococo Architects, LLC

CLIENT

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM Donald Lococo, David Moore

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Jennifer Horn
CONTRACTOR George Papaheraklis

ENGINEERS
David Linton




PHOTOGRAPHER Anice Hoachlander

CONSULTANTS (if applicable)

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  2/3/2022

PROJECT SUMMARY
The massing and ’70s brick make this house an exception rather than the rule in a street lined with gabled revivals. More importantly than its atypical form, however, was how it redefines its neighborhood. For this reason, retaining its differences rather than renovating them to assimilate the surrounding homes preserves the diversity of Washington DC’s architectural heritage.

Once this objective was established, two concerns became evident. First, the original owner, an avid art collector, designed the original home to function as a gallery. This made it less than ideal for the young family who purchased it. Excessive display walls impeded room interaction, garage staging areas left redundancy, and, to protect art from sunlight, the front façade remained windowless. Secondly, beyond the original curated space was the curator himself. A single senior owner, who required considerably less space than a growing family.

The renovation consolidates service spaces at the garage and reduces walls so that rooms dialog with each other. At the front fascade, adding a glass entry the length of covered recess still emphasizes and preserves the ’70s blocks of brick welcoming in light and views. The existing cover naturally shades the glass suggesting a more transparent entry may have been an existing intention before art protection was a concern.

A new second floor addresses the remaining program but created a challenge. The existing 70’s form easily blurred with initial attempts at a second-floor additions. After trial and error, with the use of curves and a quieter contrasting surface, the second story was able to receed allowing the existing ’70s form to remain focal. A reveal at the exiting roof and addition interface allows the addition to "hover like a thought," increasing visual separation.

Although the home no longer functions as a gallery, art and sculpture still animate the home; but now art extends to the community rather than cloistered inside. The first tops the entryway. It is a flea market fragment sourced by the architect and then modified. The roof is fortified to anticipate more sculpture as they are collected and detailed as a green roof complete with walking boards as the owners settle in. Since railings at the roof edge would compromise the ’70s massing at the front, mirrors flanking the chimney allow sculptures to be appreciated in three dimensions safely from inside They also provide privacy to and from neighbors 16 feet away. A lion sculpture discovered under vines at a side yard was moved to “guard” the front door.

JURY COMMENTS (if applicable)

IMAGES – CAPTIONS & CREDITS

Image 1  Overall Street View-The design of the home looked to emblematic icons that were introduced the same year the original house was built, and influenced the design in shape, element, and material. Anice Hoachlander, Studio HDP, 113 Valley Road, Bethesda, MD 20816
Image 2  Overall Street View-The design of the home looked to emblematic icons that were introduced the same year the original house was built, and influenced the design in shape, element, and material. Anice Hoachlander, Studio HDP, 113 Valley Road, Bethesda, MD 20816
Image 3  View of Rooftop sculpture garden with mirrors for reflection. Anice Hoachlander, Studio HDP, 113 Valley Road, Bethesda, MD 20816
Image 4  Front Entryway. Anice Hoachlander, Studio HDP, 113 Valley Road, Bethesda, MD 20816
Image 5  Entry Foyer at front door facing back of house. Anice Hoachlander, Studio HDP, 113 Valley Road, Bethesda, MD 20816
Image 6  Day photograph second floor add with sculpture/ green roof garden. Anice Hoachlander, Studio HDP, 113 Valley Road, Bethesda, MD 20816
Image 7  Second floor showing roof garden and reflective wall so occupants in Studio can enjoy anticipated sculptures in 3D. Anice Hoachlander, Studio HDP, 113 Valley Road, Bethesda, MD 20816
Image 8  Night photograph addition at existing roof with sculpture/ roof garden. Anice Hoachlander, Studio HDP, 113 Valley Road, Bethesda, MD 20816

MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project PDF