Suzane Reatig Architecture

625 Rhode Island Avenue

625 Rhode Island Avenue
© Alan Karchmer

625 RHODE ISLAND AVENUE

Suzane Reatig Architecture

ARCHITECTS
Suzane Reatig Architecture

PHOTOGRAPHS
Alan Karchmer

YEAR
2012

LOCATION
Washington, United States

CATEGORY
Apartments

Text description provided by architect.

One of the main goals for this project was to provide much needed housing sized for families in the heart of the city.

625 Rhode Island Avenue
© Alan Karchmer
625 Rhode Island Avenue
© Alan Karchmer
625 Rhode Island Avenue
© Alan Karchmer

Located steps from the Shaw Metro, the site is tapered, with one short side facing the street and one long side bounded by a public alley.

The architect determined that increasing the density would make the most of the downtown location and the site.

Working closely with city officials, the site was rezoned to replace four dilapidated townhouses with a 16-unit apartment building.

625 Rhode Island Avenue
© Alan Karchmer
625 Rhode Island Avenue
© Alan Karchmer

The four-story LEED Certified building features a green roof, a courtyard and a linear garden.

The building gently steps up in scale from the lower two and three story residences to the taller, denser intersection of 7th Street and Rhode Island Avenue.

The garden creates a buffer for the west facing units while also transforming the alley into a safe and pleasant walking path.

625 Rhode Island Avenue
© Alan Karchmer
625 Rhode Island Avenue
© Alan Karchmer

The bold exterior colors reflect the vibrant culture of the neighborhood and the long west façade engages the street and speaks fondly to the Watha T. Daniel-Shaw Library.

Combining creativity with cues from the surrounding context resulted in a new model for city housing.


625 Rhode Island Avenue
© Alan Karchmer
625 Rhode Island Avenue
© Alan Karchmer
625 Rhode Island Avenue
© Alan Karchmer


625 Rhode Island Avenue
© Alan Karchmer
625 Rhode Island Avenue
© Alan Karchmer


625 Rhode Island Avenue
Section 01
625 Rhode Island Avenue
Section 02


625 Rhode Island Avenue
First Floor Plan
625 Rhode Island Avenue
Third Floor Plan
625 Rhode Island Avenue
Fourth Floor Plan
625 Rhode Island Avenue
Roof Plan
625 Rhode Island Avenue
Roof Plan

Suzane Reatig Architecture
T +1 202 5180260
Suzane Reatig Architecture
1312 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20001, United States