The Rincon Bates home by Studio27 Architecture is located at the end of a row of houses in Capitol Hill in Washington DC. Being a Northeasterner most of my life, I’m a huge fan of these old brick row homes. The original two-story home was built back in 1906 and underwent an interior renovation in the 1970s. At the request of the homeowners, Studio27 created an open floorplan with ecological impact in mind.
From the architects:
The project furthers a continuing exploration in sustainable urban residential design.
The owners approached Studio27 with an open-ended request, the only stipulations being a re-configuration of the existing circulation pattern and thoughtful consideration for the ecological impact of the project. The scope of work evolved through an investigation of sectional manipulations focusing on apertures, daylight and natural ventilation.
The architects’ strategy displaced the dark, musty interior with a sense of openness, both in plan and section, to create a more implicit series of relationships between traditionally separated hierarchical programs. Studio27 removed a section of the second level floor joists to carve a void through the middle of the house over the dining room, enabling shared light between all spaces, and introduced operable skylights to create a performative stack effect to control ventilation. The second floor is divided into two bedroom suites, connected by a tubular steel and glass bridge that further contrasts with the heaviness of the existing masonry. Energy and water consumption are additionally minimized through the use of tank less gas-powered water heaters, new low-E glass windows and doors, bio-based insulation, low-flow plumbing fixtures and dual flush wall hung toilets. All interior finishes are domestically resourced recycled and formaldehyde-free to improve indoor air quality.
The ’Open’ House represents the non-traditional urban sustainable lifestyle.
Photos by Hoachlander Davis Photography.
Emily Fitzhugh on 07.19.2010 at 22:49 PM
such a simple little observation, but in all of it’s glory the thing that caught my eye was the wonderful mix of the celedon and white eames chairs and the glass table. Modern and yet so delicate. Love.
paige rien on 07.20.2010 at 09:46 AM
wow. this is gorgeous. LOVE the plate glass in the back – love the contrast of front-to-back, respecting the traditional street-scape forms in the front – opening it up in the back using the modern forms of the interior. i’d move back to dc in a heartbeat if this is where i got to live!