Zig Zag House
Residential | Architecture and Interior Design | Washington, District of Columbia | 2022
Design, 3D modeling, drafting, finishes selections, detailing, and project administration of a home renovation.
In Washington, DC, most typical row house renovations tend to adapt their alterations within the confines of a box, perhaps due to regulations. But this house design broke away from the box without breaking any city rules.
The existing row house was very neglected and only allowed for 3 bedrooms and 1 1/2 bathrooms. This renovation expanded it to 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and 2 powder rooms. Plus a third floor addition for a media room.
It all started when the clients' original concern was accessing the basement level from the rear without compromising an area for a patio. After maneuvering different stair configurations, it just seem more practical to do one single flight. But even at the shortest run possible, the top of the stairs went straight into the back alley. In order to accommodate the stairs footprint, the bottom landing pushed the basement to angle in. This simple gesture was then recreated at each level, pushing each corner inward and outward, resulting in this playful zig zag facade.
The angular movement not only plays out in the exterior but also inside each of the spaces. Several surprises and opportunities came up, such a small balcony for the guest room and the shape of the powder rooms. Even the media room at the very top plays with the angles, as they verge inward to form a natural home theater.
It was often joked around that the interiors' monochromatic aesthetic was influenced by the clients' black-and-white cat Zeki. But in reality, all interior walls were decided to be kept in white to emphasize the architecture of the house. In contrast, a palette of black and grey colors with walnut wood species was used, in addition to a few accents of brass and pink, as an homage to DC's iconic cherry blossoms. While the nature of the interior design maintains a modern look and feel, it still allows for flexibility for the clients' preferred furnishings.
In the end, the house was widely welcomed by the neighborhood. A neighbor in particular, the one right behind the house, mentioned that she enjoys seeing it from her kitchen every morning. As for the clients, they are happy and proud of having an iconic fixture in their neighborhood.
