Recently completed addition in Falls Church

RESPECTING THE NEIGHBORHOOD The purchasers of this one-story 1950s house on a cul-de-sac of tight lots were adament about two things:  one, they wanted a front porch. Two, they wanted more space without causing the bulk of a second story to overwhelm the scale of the street (like the unfortunate mcmansion recently completed across the […]

Alexandria Special Use Permit

I had the pleasure to meet with the Northridge Citizens Association this past week as part of the process to secure a Special Use Permit for a client’s new infill house. It’s a great neighborhood, beautifully lit for Christmas, and the meeting was a productive engagement with thoughtful participants. Looking forward to continuing the process.

Under construction: Westover Village

Coming along nicely, the design for this house in an iconic Arlington neighborhood overcomes several interrelated zoning, programming, and aesthetic challenges. First and foremost, the new foyer (which had to be approved by the Zoning Board) relieves the cramped entry of the split-level as well as give it a unifying central element on the façade. […]

Who are construction drawings for?

Construction documents have many audiences.   When I am working on a set of construction documents, I have to keep in mind that many different parties will be looking at them, each looking for different information. There are four primary parties to keep in mind, though some of these are actually composed of different entities […]

Sparkplug Shack, 2019

Tiny structure does double duty Office by day, recording studio by night.  I designed this for my wife as the office for her private consulting business, Sparkplug Ideas.  The cork-covered walls and sloped ceiling make for great acoustics while she is recording podcasts and video calls. The cork also allows for flexible backdrops. Equipped with […]

Del Ray, Alexandria, 2019

Whimsical craft If you are familiar with Del Ray, you know the pride of place that governs. The dining room & master suite addition on the rear had to work with the existing aesthetic, to be sure, and not overwhelm the remaining rear yard of the small lot. I am a big proponent of treating […]