Discovering DC’s Architectural Styles: Queen Anne Victorian

Buildings are designed in many different styles & aesthetics. The differing styles can be a result of the location of the building, its surrounding context, or the time it was built, drawing inspiration from a geographical, ethnic or functional requirement. Other times it is simply the choice of the person or entity commissioning the project, and / or the architect’s chosen style.

In this example, we will look at renovations Aggregate was commissioned to design in concert with an existing house style: Original Queen Anne Victorian.

The images above are of a Columbia Heights 5-unit townhouse. You will see the before and after images of the front of the building that depicts how we blended the addition into the original style.

For this project, the scope of the design work included stripping the interior, removing the rear façade, and constructing an entirely new 4-story addition with a rooftop penthouse.

Each condo contained two bedrooms & two bathrooms, while the penthouse unit contained 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms with a roof deck. As you can see when comparing the images, we were able to keep the aesthetic of the existing building, even after adding on the addition. Not only was it seamless in aesthetic, but it did not appear bulky or even noticeable upon completion.

Choosing a style to design a building largely depends if it will be located on a raw lot, in an urban, sub-urban, or rural locale. The style also depends on whether it is an existing building that will be incorporated into the new program. This will determine whether the function of the proposed building will work within the style of the existing building, and ultimately the budget.

We are eager to discuss how we can help renovate your home or building, while preserving its original style.