Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space

"A community’s physical form, rather than its land uses, is its most intrinsic and enduring characteristic." [Katz, EPA] This blog focuses on place and placemaking and all that makes it work--historic preservation, urban design, transportation, asset-based community development, arts & cultural development, commercial district revitalization, tourism & destination development, and quality of life advocacy--along with doses of civic engagement and good governance watchdogging.

Monday, August 05, 2019

One of the most discordant infill rowhouse popups I've ever seen...

Crazy modern architecture discordant popup/infill house/rowhouse on the 1600 block of K Street NE, Trinidad neighborhood, DC

I am not against popups per se, and I believe in infill construction, to maximize the ability to offer housing.  I also believe in a variety of types of housing (apartments, rowhouses, detached houses, basement apartments, carriage houses, etc.) in neighborhoods to support a diverse range of needs and incomes, and to militate against homogeneity with the aim of building more resilient neighborhoods.

But there is a reason I believe in mandatory design review -- not to stop projects from proceeding, but with the aim of ensuring that the design of the facades is compatible with the general architectural style of the block and neighborhood.

Because the city's residential architecture dating from the 1930s and earlier is so distinct and so identified with "Washington", design review is justified because diminishment of the architectural character of blocks and neighborhoods diminishes the architectural character of the city.


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