The W Street Residence is organized into three levels: the first level functions as an office, guest quarters, or rental studio with access from within the main house and the street; the second level comprises the main living/social space and is defined by an open plan that extends beyond the perimeter wall to become an exterior space and extension of the double-height living space; the third level is a private master suite with access to a roof terrace.

The underlying conceptual proposal is two-fold: first was to provide maximum openness, flexibility, and light through the use of use of fixed and movable glass partitions, full-height glazing where possible, skylights, and open tread stairs; second was to have a clear exterior articulation of volumes, particularly the two-story main volume that sits on the lower-volume plinth.

W Street Residence, image courtesy Division1 | photo by Debi Fox

W Street Residence, image courtesy Division1 | photo by Debi Fox

W Street Residence, image courtesy Division1 | photo by Debi Fox

W Street Residence, image courtesy Division1 | photo by Debi Fox

+ Project credits / data

Project: W Street Residence
Type: Residential
Size: 2,200 SF
Location: Washington, DC

Architect: Division1 | http://www.division1architects.com/
Photographer: Debi Fox Photography

+ All images and drawings courtesy Division1 | Photo by Debi Fox Photography

Designed by American architecture firm Division1, the ¾ acre site of the Roberts Residence is bound by, a residential street along its west edge, single-family detached residences on adjacent lots to the north and south, and a wooded park towards the rear. At the front of the site along the street edge the site drops almost immediately by 8 feet. Only the roof of the house is visible from the street. The site continues to slope gently dipping another 12 feet until it reaches the wooded park to the rear of the site.

The Roberts Residence, image courtesy Division1 | Photo by Debi Fox

The Roberts Residence - Before, image courtesy Division1

The existing house (as well as those adjacent to the site) is of typical post-war construction, hastily constructed and lacking any relationship or consideration to the immediate context. With no relationship to the site, no clear entry, no organizing principle of interior spaces, minimal and misplaced windows, the existing house was rather dark, stuffy, and inefficient. The clients, a husband and wife with two pre-school children, came to Division1 seeking a renovation that would not only address these issues, but also provide a home that was suitable to their growing needs.

The program required accommodating a master bedroom and master bath, 2 bedrooms, a bathroom and playroom for the kids, an office, gym, laundry room, storage, kitchen, and living room. In order to accommodate the new program requirements all existing interior partition walls were removed, as well as the second floor and roof. The remaining foundation and structural shell of the lower level established the datum for the new house.

The Roberts Residence, image courtesy Division1 | Photo by Debi Fox

The concept of "served" and "service" was employed to establish the basic organizing vocabulary for the residence. This was achieved by bisecting the house with a linear volume, which was articulated in tile. The resulting volume contains circulation, bathrooms, serves as a threshold between private and public functions, and defines entry to the residence through its extension beyond the house's perimeter boundary.

The Roberts Residence, image courtesy Division1 | Photo by Debi Fox

Finally a double-height volume with a double-story glazed wall that opens up to views of the wooded park beyond punctures through the house creating a lofted courtyard space for entertaining. The connection of the house with the landscape is further reinforced by the extension of both the lower-level floor and the long kitchen counter into the rear yard.

The Roberts Residence - Lower floor plan, drawing courtesy Division1

The Roberts Residence - Upper floor plan, drawing courtesy Division1

+ Project credits / data

Project: The Roberts Residence
Type:  Single-Family Residence
Location:  Rockville, MD, USA
Size:  3,500 SF
Main Materials:  Cedar Wood and Porcelain Tile

Architect: Division1 | http://www.division1architects.com/
Photography: Debi Fox (Debi Fox Photography)

+ All images and drawings courtesy Division1

Mexican architectural firm manadaº has recently completed the Qi Urban Lobby, it was designed to archive a harmony and balance sense to new wellness centre in Mexico City.

As Chinese philosophy teaches, "qi", the circulating life energy, is inherent in all things. The balance of negative and positive is believed to be essential for good health and wellbeing, and this balance and harmony was the essence that Qi Urban, a wellness center, located in the fashion and art district Condesa, in Mexico City, was searching to restore.

Qi Urban Lobby, image courtesy manada | Photo by Jaime Navarro

Growing rapidly into one of the largest and best equipped wellness centers in the city, frequented by artists and actors, with multiple services like spa, oxygen bar, full fitness, etc. the owners soon realized that the demand of visitors and vast palette of the services offered required a new Qi welcome area, which would extend the balance and harmony of the center's inner spaces into the lobby, thus welcoming visitors to the balanced state of mind straight upon their entrance.

Qi Urban Lobby, image courtesy manada | Photo by Jaime Navarro

Architectural studio Manadaº planned the new lobby in order to bring balance and harmony in the space, connecting the Hair Salon, the Aveda boutique store, an open kitchen/bar and a welcome reception area.

Qi Urban Lobby, image courtesy manada | Photo by Jaime Navarro

The reception area was placed to the center of a welcome lobby, and thoughtfully surrounded with other functional areas. Hair salon is positioned on a second open level, but divided only with a glass division, so it keeps integrated and feels a part of the space. The open kitchen bar is positioned on a wooden deck, while its design, installation and function make the customers feel comfortable just like at home or at their best friends'.

Qi Urban Lobby, image courtesy manada | Photo by Jaime Navarro

The interiors were manufactured by La Invencible, Mexico City's furniture manufacturing studio. Manufacture is made out of solid American oak – scrap wood reclaimed from a flooring company, assembled by 1 1/2 inches wood strips. For the main fur-niture each piece was mapped in order to make construction possible, with each wood strip painted individually in different colors, then constructed on site again. The main part of the manufacture is made of solid ash tree, also assembled by 1 1/2 inches wood strips.

Qi Urban Lobby, image courtesy manada | Photo by Jaime Navarro

The extension of the wooden deck opens to the front facade, converting the space into a semi open terrace, thus blending the limits of internal space with external. The natural light, balanced colored tones, consisting of natural wood and earthly colors, and the orientation and functionality of the space helped reach a new level of connection and communication with customers, and enabled the harmonious floating of energy through the lobby and interconnection with the inner areas of the wellness center.

Qi Urban Lobby, image courtesy manada | Photo by Jaime Navarro

+ Project credits / data

Project: Qi Urban Lobby
Location: Condesa, Mexico city, Mexico
Area: 162 m2
Date of completion: November 2010
Time to completion: 6 weeks
Type: wellness | retail

Architectural project: Manadaº | http://www.manada.com.mx/
Principals in charge: Katerina Alatzia, Alejandro Tapia
Client: Centro Qi Wellnes Center, Condesa, Mexico DF
Manufacturing/general contractor: La Invencible | www.lainvencible.org
General contractor: construccion patente, mexico city.
Photography: Jaime Navarro

+ About manada

manadaº is an architectural studio dedicated to confrontation and expansion of architectural boundaries.