SKY LOFT   a two level loft renovation 


This two-story loft in Dupont Circle was completely transformed into an open space filled with light.  The verticality of the existing living/dining area is enhanced with a large opening in the floor above, which was made to feel larger with a frameless transparent glass railing (replacing a previous drywall enclosure).  All ancillary rooms (kitchen, bathroom, closets, and staircase) are “hidden away” to preserve the purity of the primary two-story volume.  The kitchen was enlarged for function, and can “disappear” behind sliding doors. Decorative shelving can also be exposed or hidden away.  On the second floor a line of closets that runs the length of the apartment are concealed behind white pivot doors, allowing for a great deal of unexpected storage.  The master bathroom is veiled behind large frosted glass panels, which serve as a visual focal point from the living room space below.  The central skylight provides natural daylight to every room due to the transparency of the design.

KUBE selected to design new home on prestigious DC site

KUBE has been selected to design a new ground up 6,000 sf house for the last available site adjacent to the historic Rosedale Conservancy, located in Cleveland Park in northwest DC.  The Conservancy dates back 280 years into Washington history and is home to one of the oldest private residences in the area.  

General Uriah Forrest

Sometime before 1730, an unknown Maryland colonist built a stone cottage on the property which is less than half a mile from the grounds of the National Cathedral. General Uriah Forrest and his wife Rebecca bought the property in 1793 and began construction on the farmhouse that still stands today. After the Revolutionary War, Forrest served as the mayor of Georgetown and eventually in the Continental Congress of the United States. 

Over the years, the neighborhood grew up around the estate as lots bordering the three-acre, conserved green space were sold off.  The lawn is now open to the public and serves as a dog park for the community. The last available lot near the conservatory, 3/4 acre, was recently sold to a young family interested in building their dream home on these grounds. 

View of site from driveway off of Ordway

Conceptual Drawing: Rosedale House Front Perspective 

Conceptual Drawing : Rosedale House Rear Perspective 

KUBE worked with the homeowners and an array of organizations to design an approved set of plans that pays homage to the site’s rural past while delivering a comfortable, modern structure stacked into two stories and configured as two offset rectangles. 

The plans were approved and applauded by the Historic Preservation Review Board, the local ANC, the Cleveland Park ARC and the Rosedale Conservancy Board.  The theme is a “modern barn,” which nods toward the rural history of the site and successfully unifies the new house with the adjacent historic farmhouse. The project includes a swimming pool and straddles a small slope in the rolling landscape.  Consultants on the project include landscape architects Campion Hruby, based in Annapolis structural engineer, JZ Structural Consulting and civil engineer,  CAS Engineering. 

Look for future updates as the project is documented throughout design and construction. For more information about KUBE Architecture, visit our website or check us out on Facebook and Twitter.    

Conceptual Drawing : Rosedale House Southern Exposure 

FRENCHIES frozen yogurt lounge in spring 2014  HOME & DESIGN magazine