Shophouse Meets Brownstone

Situated on a busy street mostly populated with dense, mixed-use buildings — apartments above, commercial spaces below — these Capitol Hill homeowners knew their 1905 Foursquare-style house could offer more to the community. Modeled after the classic typology of the “Shophouse,” the project will lift the old home to gain head-height for the home’s former basement, now to be transformed into a street-level café activating the sidewalk.

A brownstone connected to the south side of the original house, though appearing to be a new, discrete building, is actually an addition to the home, creating more space without distorting the home’s historic form.

Though a dramatic revision of the property, the transformation is designed to look as if the mixed-use structure has been part of the urban fabric all along. The slope of the site allows the commercial form of the restaurant exterior to blend seamlessly with existing commercial spaces along the busier main road at the lower end of the property, while the traditional form of the home above blends in with the other older homes stepping up the hill beyond.

While maintaining the historic integrity and charm of the home’s exterior, the interior will be modernized with contemporary amenities. Above the new brownstone, contemporary perks include a rooftop hot tub with a view.

The dual-use of the property posed unique design challenges, compounded by the small size of the lot. Regulatory codes for restaurants alone are stringent and complex — but fitting and permitting the equipment and safety requirements into a small, newly mixed-use building without compromising the character of the original house was a challenge we gladly accepted. Additionally, programming the structural and mechanical systems to meet the needs of both a restaurant and single-family home is a highly complex task, especially when simultaneously balancing the preservation of the home’s traditional charm.

Soon, this creative mixed-use project will serve its community as a unique transformation that combines modern offerings with historic character. We look forward to the evolution of this exciting new development in the heart of Capitol Hill.

Notes & Credits
Architecture, Interior Design, and Landscape Architecture by Board & Vellum.
General Contracting by Schaefer Construction.
Rendering by Board & Vellum.