"Checking out the best and favorites of DC by #bike."

An aerial view of Washington, DC, circa 1993.

PMI Parking Garage, Washington, DC

Library of Congress in Washington, DC, USA-The McAllen Public Library may be the largest single-story library in the nation, but the Library of Congress in Washington, DC is the largest library in the world with over 151.8 million items sitting on 838 miles of bookshelves. Maybe the massive collection is trying to compensate for its smallest book—a 1/25" x 1/25" copy of Old King Cole, the pages of which can only be turned with the help of a needle. Photo: maveric2003

DC65 vacuum by Dyson, $600 Dyson has earned a reputation for its ultra-high-performance machines. With the DC65, the company engineered a cleaning head that pivots on a tight radius and self-adjusts to effectively suction dust from carpet and hard surfaces. A washable filter means there’s no need to buy extra items over the vacuum’s lifespan.

An exterior switch pops the bottom of the bin open to let out the debris. It holds 0.12 gallons, or just under 16 ounces, of waste.

The house before renovation.

When Justin Sullivan and Christine Ju stumbled upon this house in Cleveland Park neighborhood of Washington, DC, it was in clear need of an update. "It only had one bathroom, a kitchen that hadn't been touched since the 60s, and a small backyard that had become overgrown with weeds and had a rusty chain link fence," Sullivan says. It was originally 1,800 square feet, but the couple expanded it to 2,400 with the addition of a basement.

By enclosing a small deck, the couple was able to expand and remodel the kitchen. Painted plywood cabinets add a streamlined aeshetic. The refrigerator is Sub-Zero, the cooktop is Thermador, and the hood, dishwasher, and double-wall oven are Bosch. The countertop is Caesarstone's Frosty Carrina.

Designed by renowned Washington architect Robert Gurney, this home is a modern interpretation of historical revivalism. It spans over 8,000 square-feet and includes six bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms.

Working with Ryan Moody Design on the backyard, the couple cleared out the weeds, leveled the space, and added a new ipe and galvanized metal fence. A fire pit designed by David Cooke is surrounded by a bench of ipe. Concrete pavers make up the patio.

Eliza takes in the view from her perch atop the house’s green roof, which Daniel believes to be the first of its kind in the neighborhood. The family received a subsidy administered by DC Greenworks and funded by the DC Department of the Environment.

Large Marvin Windows were added to the back of the house to improve views of the yard. "We replaced the old 1980s shingles with stucco—since it was an approved material according to our historic reviewers—and painted the house," Sullivan says. They also added a small balcony with ipe decking.

The design connected academic spaces with outdoor pathways and gathering spots.

SOM was responsible for a transformation of St. Albans School, a college preparatory school in Washington, D.C. The renovation involved creating a more seamless flow between campus spaces.

Sullivan, a contractor, owns the remodeling company Impact Construction. He designed and performed the work in several stages, with collaboration from friends Kevin Nigri, AIA, and Stephen Strasser. The dining table, the Parsons model from Room & Board with a walnut top, is surrounded by Adelaide chairs from BoConcept. The Random pendant light is by Moooi.

The sedum plantings come from nearby Emory Knoll Farms, the only nursery in North America to focus solely on propagating plants intended for green-roof systems.

Leaning Yucca House by DF_DC Architects © Rory Gardiner

It may look as though this kitchen doesn’t have many places for storage but that’s not the case. Cabinets run on the outside and inside of the U-shaped structure; a walk-in pantry is concealed in the home’s “central core.”

The interior of the new glass atrium. The renovation adds 55,000 square feet to the complex, and a variety of green features, such as water-efficient plumbing, use of regionally sourced materials, and a design that capitalizes on natural light.

The owners are in their seventies – they actually got married during construction at the site – and they wanted to have a home that would be accessible when necessary. The shower is equipped for a wheelchair, and so is every hallway in the house.

Leaning Yucca House by DF_DC Architects © Rory Gardiner

Brothers Robert and Gavin Paisley founded Chisel & Mouse to channel their passion for architecture by creating sculptures of iconic buildings. Each piece is made with plaster, which gives the sculpture weightiness and presence, as well as a cool, smooth finish. In its rendering of the Greyhound Bus Terminal in Washington, D.C., Chisel & Mouse captures the perfect symmetry of the building’s façade. The art deco building features vertical and horizontal straight lines, as well as rounded corners, which gives it a softer look. Explore more of Chisel & Mouse’s sculptures here.

The renovation also added more public space to the complex in the form of a modern courtyard. Native, drought-resistance plants limit water use.

In leafy northwest Washington, D.C., a two-story addition expands a 1936 home without overwhelming it.

Bloomberg wanted to mix raw and refined materials in the home, and she did so with the custom-designed staircase. White steel treads and frosted glass panels are supported by a black steel structure, which sits across from what she calls the “central core” of the home. Storage space and an elevator are hidden inside.

The new structure joins and modernizes the existing Ambassador’s Residence, built in 1936, and the Chancery building, built in 1963, by way of a glass atrium.

The Swiss Embassy Residence in Washington, DC. Photo by William Lebovich.

A modern hallway connects the Chancery and Residence buildings.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Given the homeowners’ request for an open-concept house with a fluid floor plan, Bloomberg first stripped the building down to its basics. Brick walls and a steel structure appeared; both became integral to the design. The architecture was not meant to be wholly decorative – that was the full responsibility of the bold furniture and art.

Viroc is a defining wall feature in the master bedroom. Another prominent detail is the wood flooring, which is original to the home. A bedroom on the third floor and a sleeping nook across from the master bedroom are for guests.

Charles Goodman in his Washington, D.C. office during the 1950s.

Specialized Housing: The first facility of its kind in Washington, D.C., La Casa, designed by Studio Twenty Seven Architecture/Leo A Day, will provide permanent supportive housing for 40 men.

Project Name: Washing D.C. Residence

The homeowners regularly entertain and they asked for a dining table that could accommodate dinner parties – especially ones that could easily move outdoors. The architect designed two matching tables and benches on either side of the sliding glass partition.