georgetown – Neil Flanagan

Reno Park 090725: Property

July 26, 2009December 31, 2013Reno Park Studiesfessenden st, fort drive, fort reno park, georgetown, grass, maps, MUGOS, nebraska ave, parks, planning, property, public space, streets, tenleytown, tobago dc1 Comment

As promised, a map of all of the property lots in the area of Reno/Tenleytown area. Fascinating ain’t it?

Even without squinting, you can see diagonal lines that don’t seem to match up with any roads or lots. I’m fairly certain these cuts line up with older borders and roads, putting a whole new volume of evidence of the past fossilized in the modern legal form of the city. The erasure and remainder of various structures as a history appears too. Why did some lines stick around? Perhaps one owner sold out before the other, and a divided lot just went up for sale as two later. More comparisons under the fold.

Continue reading ➞ Reno Park 090725: Property

Details, Details: Georgetown Stable

June 29, 2009September 22, 2009Detailsbrick, details, federal architecture, georgetown, historic architecture, horses, ornamentLeave a Comment

Just across Cady’s Alley from the Ukranian Embassy is a little building that I assume served as stables until the 20th century. On the wall are these two equine tondi.

It’s simple, humble ornament that conveys the function of the building. With a little humor, it almost suggests that the horses are popping their somber heads out to have a look around.

Good Architects: McInturff Architects

June 28, 2009July 22, 2009Good Architectsasymmetry, color, context, contrast, design, detail, georgetown, linkedin, modern architecture, postmodern architecture, restoration, steel, symmetry, transparency, wood, zincLeave a Comment

To make an unwarranted generalization, DC architects like their buildings heavy and somber. Even in the recent fad of light and clean glass facades, the buildings have been rather self-serious and blockish looking, a consequence of clients demanding efficient floorplans from architects who themselves were trying to be cool and modern without upsetting the polished and poised look DC has in the collective consciousness and legal structure. This fretful indecision can be a bit like the jeans and sportcoat look – crisp but comfortable, hip but conservative.

McInturff Architects offer a wholly different approach. They’re (post)modern(ist) but a little witty and also aiming for comfort. Their mostly residential oevure consists of excellently-composed buildings that respond coyly to the conditions of the site. In doing so, it avoids falling into limpid styles while also carefully respecting historic and distinctive architecture elsewhere. As for aesthetics, the practice cleverly contrasts gentle and warm elements with bold minimalism in beautiful light-filled spaces. As their projects are primarily private, it’s trickier to see their work than Esocoff & Associates‘. But down in Georgetown, anyone can at least see three buildings, and go into one of those.

Continue reading ➞ Good Architects: McInturff Architects

United States Bicycle Route 101

May 1, 2009May 13, 2009planningactivism, bethesda, bicycles, bike trails, capitol, downtown dc, experiments, federal government, georgetown, infrastructure, konterra, linkedin, maryland, metro, planning, silver spring, speculation, the mall, transportation, union station, us bike routes, Washington3 Comments

Did you know that the United States has signed bicycle routes? You didn’t? Yeah… don’t feel bad, nobody else seems to know about them, and I only stumbled upon them trying to do this month’s Wikiglean. Obscurity notwithstanding, two bike routes do exist and the legal framework is still around – and right now is just the time to breathe life back into the system and make them serious transit.

Back in the 1970s, after the shock of the Oil Crisis, planners – AASHTO even – had the forward idea of determining and assigning interstate bike routes. Primarily meant for low-traffic roads or dedicated trails, the routes were to connect cities for touring purposes. However, by 1982, only two routes had ever come into being, and so the system went the way of the DMC-12. But conveniently for Washingtonians, the two existing trails currently run through Virginia and one is poised to benefit the Washington Metropolitan area.

Continue reading ➞ United States Bicycle Route 101