Designed by: Kube Architecture
Photos: Greg Powers
Contractor: FWI Custom Homes
Steel: Metal Specialties
A 1912 Sears Roebuck & Co mail-order house has been transformed into a light-filled modern residence for a family of three in the historic Cleveland Park neighborhood of Washington, DC. Previously this “kit house” was constructed as an object on its site, and now it is fully-integrated into its scenic Rock Creek Park surroundings.
The bungalow style “Elsmore” model home had been renovated and added onto in the 1970s, and its dark, compartmentalized interiors needed to be opened up and modernized. Now new glass walls frame views of the trees and creek, which had previously been closed off.
Historic regulations required the original envelope of the house to be preserved on three sides, and the renovated portions of the house could not be visible from the street. This necessitated a horizontal rear addition that is tucked away behind the original façade, as terraced volumes with ribbons of glass offer panoramic vistas of the park.
The original walls had tilted over time, so they were braced during construction, and all new walls were customized to negotiate the unique conditions. The interior of the house is highlighted by a sculptural steel, wood, and glass staircase that pierces and vertically connects all three levels of the home.
The skylight above floods the lower flors and adjacent spaces with natural light. Almost all walls were removed in the living, kitchen, and dining areas, creating openness and flexibility of use, and a new deck spans the length of the house.
Color was used in a minimal way, keeping the envelope mostly white or light grey, while pops of strong color highlight important features (such as the blue in the central staircase).
The master suite on the third floor has large windows with views of the treetops, while the lower level lounge area’s floor-to-ceiling glass blends the interior with a new bluestone patio that connects the house directly to the adjacent park at ground level.
