Hobbit House

This recently completed the renovation of a 3 story row house, built circa 1900, is located in the historic Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, DC. The grouping of houses are on the National Register and referred to as the Hobbit Houses. The property incorporates a proportionately squat entry door in a Richardsonian Romanesque style facade dominated by a large scale bay window, hence the nickname. Prior to 2017 when the property was acquired, the interior had been extensively modified, including a sizable addition in the back, likely from the 1970’s. While the layout concept was straightforward, one room in the front, one room in the back with the stair in the middle of a long, narrow footprint, the space was dark, convoluted and choppy mostly due to poor space use and the presence of abandoned ventilation shafts throughout.

The renovation, including all new infrastructure, transformed the interior. All new systems, plumbing fixtures and appliances are energy efficient. The expression is unapologetically contemporary in a city that leans heavily towards the traditional. Renovation costs totaled $120.00 per square foot; well below the cost of comparable projects in this area. The total square footage is 1560 for all three floors.

The owner collects art in addition to owning an art gallery and event space in Washington, DC. He is also a portrait photographer; hence the studio space on the second floor.

The property is historically connected to Douglas Frederick, often called the Father of the Civil Rights Movement. You can say the branch doesn’t fall far from the tree given that the owner is an LGBT Rights activist.