Colored Fins:
This initial concept imagines an inverse of the typical DC bay aesthetic in that the bays themselves are the brick elements emerging out of a field of metal cladding. A series of colored fins at the ground level provide a pop of color as well as add a layer of screening for the ground level units. The materials, scale, and massing relate to its context; while supergraphics and edgy colors set the building apart.
Cubes:
In contrast to the precedent of most buildings in Washington, DC that accentuate their verticality, this scheme is markedly horizontal. Residential windows are grouped horizontally and shift slightly to mask the shearwall locations in an attempt to make the building appear to be made out of concrete or steel. Sporadic cubic frames capture private balconies that contain screens to provide varying porosity for both the individual units and for the overall elevation.
Metal Screens:
Planar metal screens act as sun-shading devices and capture spontaneous private balconies in this dynamic scheme. The overall structure adheres to a very organized kit-of-parts while the floating metal screens dance across the façade whimsically to create a vibrant composition.
