Photo Credit: Anice Hoachlander/HD
Just shy of 100 years old and sorely neglected, this classic foursquare gained a dramatic restoration and expansion that impressed the judges as “absolutely amazing … an extremely skilled period piece.”
The owners’ program included an entry foyer, living room, dining room, kitchen with adjoining breakfast room, three bedrooms, two baths, an office/guest room on the third floor, and the possibility of building out the basement.
To architect Greg Wiedemann, the result “demonstrates that one can substantially increase the useful area of a historic home without major changes to its character.” For instance, he and his team nearly doubled the home’s living space by finishing the attic and excavating the basement (then a crawlspace) for an additional bedroom, bathroom, mudroom, and recreation room.
Photo Credit: Anice Hoachlander/HD
The project addressed structural problems while also restoring the original details where possible. Sagging joists and beams were sistered to new timbers; the plumbing and wiring were replaced; the windows, exterior trim, and shingles were restored; and period interior natural oak trim was custom-milled to complete the seamless transition.
Location: Washington, D.C.
Designer: Wiedemann Architects, Bethesda, Md.
Contractor: McNamara Brothers, Silver Spring, Md.
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See list of all 2008 RDA winners.