Bad additions as an indicator of the need for architectural guidance

Speaking of saying the same stuff, for more than a decade, I've argued that DC needs "mandatory design review," not to be a pain in the a**, but to provide design guidance for projects that are clearly in need of it, in a city where historic residential architecture is a primary element of neighborhood and city identity.

-- "Other arguments for mandatory design review," 2013
-- "Changing matter of right zoning regulations for houses to conform to heights typical within neighborhoods, not the allowable maximum," 2012





WRT rowhouse additions, I'm not necessarily against them, but so many are done so badly.  There needs to be a requirement for like materials, etc.

I've argued for many many years that it wouldn't be too hard, I don't think, to provide systematic guidance through a pattern book.

The Chicago Bungalow Association has produced such a guide, The Bungalow Expansion Project Book, out of their #StopThePop initiative, addressing a similar problem.

You can buy the book, but it's also downloadable for free.

They have other cool merchandise, including prints, a wall calendar, a bungalow style birdhouse, and window planter boxes.