Contemporary Meets Historic on Ridge Row

Located in the heart of Washington DC’s historic Mount Vernon Square neighborhood, Ridge Row is a contemporary oasis, offering modern flair on a quiet historic street. Floor to ceiling windows provide light-filled interiors while the sturdy concrete structure ensures sound insulation and energy efficiency.

Designed, owned and developed by the architect, the apartments are a reflection of the owner's wish to design for 21st century living. Four two-unit townhouses set a new standard for the use of concrete in residential projects. A method usually reserved for commercial buildings, the shell is built with pre-fabricated concrete panels for the walls, and hollow core planks for the floors. Storefront windows and doors are aluminum and glass. The brick in the front was a building requirement within the property’s historic district.

The use of concrete is not only for fire protection, but also to limit noise transmission between residential units and termite problems. Pre-fabricated panels lend a faster and more efficient construction process as well.

The structure allows for large expanses of glass in the rear and punched openings on the street façade that bring ample natural light into spaces. Together with the inclusion of terraces, rooms extend beyond their walls to invite the outdoors in. The project achieves ecological and aesthetic harmony, blending the building’s unconventional materials and structure within its context of historic urban fabric.