PROJECT  Historic Shaw Rowhouse

LOCATION Washington, District of Columbia, US​

ARCHITECT Hill & Hurtt Architects

CLIENT

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM Joshua O. Hill, AIA LEED AP; Eric B. Hurtt, AIA; Mary-Margaret Stacy, AIA

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
CONTRACTOR Buffalo Company / Cem Sevin

ENGINEERS
Feild & Tung / Jon Tung




PHOTOGRAPHER Stacy Zarin Goldberg

CONSULTANTS (if applicable)

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  12/1/2019

PROJECT SUMMARY
This DC rowhouse in the Shaw historic district had been the victim of many poor, ad-hoc renovations throughout the years. The resulting spaces lacked spatial definition and had lost their historic details and character.

We approached this whole-house renovation with three primary goals: to bring light deep into the house with windows, skylights, and large openings between spaces; to use materials that were energy efficient, reclaimed, and sustainably sourced; and to develop an architectural language that echoed the era of the original home while creating spatial definition.

The rear facade was redesigned to bring natural light into the back of the house with large scale windows and doors. The brickwork incorporates details from the historic front facade, including corbels, arches, and brick patterns. The result is an appropriately scaled facade that relates to the adjacent exterior spaces and creates a new garden entry for the home.

Through the use of large cased openings, pilasters and beams, and other architectural details, spaces throughout the house were connected with one another while being given the spatial definition that they had lacked. Additional components such as built-in cabinetry provide much needed storage and were designed to complement the architecture of the house. The existing fireplaces were restored using salvaged mantels and period appropriate tile, allowing the fireplaces to once again be the focal point of their spaces. Doors, door hardware, and stair parts were carefully saved and re-used. New, energy-efficient windows and skylights were used throughout the house, as well as modern insulation, enhancing the efficiency of the thermal envelope.

JURY COMMENTS (if applicable)

A thoughtful, respectful transformation of an historic property. The resulting interiors are light-filled and generous. It seems like there was a close relationship between architect and client.

IMAGES – CAPTIONS & CREDITS

Image 1  Historic Shaw Rowhouse; Photo by Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Image 2  Renovated Rear Facade; Photo by Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Image 3  Dining Room Looking Towards the Living Room; Photo by Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Image 4  Attic Family Room; Photo by Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Image 5  Dining Room; Photo by Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Image 6  Entry; Photo by Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Image 7  Stair Hall; Photo by Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Image 8  Kitchen; Photo by Stacy Zarin Goldberg

MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project PDF