Modern Architecture in Washington, DC

The collections of the Library’s Prints and Photographs Division relating to Washington’s domestic architecture offer unique opportunities for studying the ways in which architects adapted European and American prototypes to local tastes. Comparing the exteriors of these houses, often wrapped in historically reminiscent forms, with their interiors reveals how architects accommodated modern garages, TV and media rooms, solariums, and increasingly sybaritic baths.

The US Capitol

In the center of the nation’s capital stands a grand building designed to embody democratic ideals of freedom and opportunity. In marble and stone, the Capitol affirms our capacity to govern ourselves. Symbolic themes turn up in structural and decorative details that are meant to evoke our governmental process, from Pierre Charles L’Enfant’s axial visual avenues to the Apotheosis of Washington painted by Constantino Brumidi in the Senate corridors.

Despite being an ancient structure, the Capitol is constantly evolving. As the number of Congressional members quadrupled in the 1800s, so did office and meeting space needs, necessitating extensions to the original building. Thomas Ustick Walter’s colonnaded hyphens are particularly successful, a graceful solution that manages to integrate the wings into the original building without diminishing it.

A lavishly illustrated scholarly work by two experts that examines the Capitol’s classical ornamentation, including its dome, porticos, entablatures, and painted interior stucco work. It also identifies rooms that are closed to the public and assesses the influence of the Capitol’s design on statehouses.

The White House

Although Modern architecture isn’t a style that is commonly seen in DC, you can find some interesting examples in the U Street Corridor area. These homes stand out from the many Colonial, Georgian, and Victorian houses that line the streets in this neighborhood. These homes are a perfect example of how to combine classic design with contemporary features.

One of the most iconic structures in Washington is the White House, designed by James Hoban in a Neoclassical style. The structure was designed using concepts inherited from Roman architects Vitruvius and Andrea Palladio. Hoban also took inspiration from Dublin’s Leinster House, which served as the seat of the Irish parliament.

The National Archives building is another stunning example of Neoclassical architecture in Washington. The building is home to the original Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. The building was designed by Hilyard Robinson and Paul Williams, and the landscape was designed by David Williston.

The Smithsonian Visitor Center

Few civic complexes capture the imagination like the Smithsonian. The world’s largest museum and research complex, it consists of 17 museums and galleries in the Washington area, including America’s National Zoo, as well as museums and research centers around the globe.

The Smithsonian Institution Building, also known as the Castle, is the center of the complex. Its neo-Gothic design is influenced by the architecture of 19th-century international exposition buildings, such as the 1876 Government Building in Philadelphia and the Crystal Palace in London.

Bonstra | Haresign Architects partnered with the Smithsonian to simplify, organize and unify the visitor experience in this National Historic Landmark. We used modern tools to achieve this while maintaining the architectural integrity of this iconic building.

This bold structure is a series of four simple travertine cubes connected by three glass and steel atria. Designed to increase connectivity across the South Mall, BIG’s masterplan features new entrances and public spaces that help visitors discover all of the cultural institutions at the center of the Smithsonian’s vast collection.

The National Mall

Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast, history buff, or just someone who loves beautiful buildings, the National Mall will take your breath away. It’s a testament to the ingenuity of architects and the courage of leaders. But this iconic place isn’t all old, and it has a few very modern additions to its collection of public and private buildings.

From afar, the National Museum of African American History and Culture looks like nothing else on the National Mall. Its evocative design references everything from Yoruba wood carvings to the shaded porches of family gathering spots.

It was an early sign that modernist sensibilities were beginning to break away from aesthetic tradition, which would become more pronounced in the 1960s and 1970s with projects like Harry Weese’s Metro stations and Marcel Breuer’s HUD and HHS buildings. At the Hirshhorn, concrete articulates ambition in both the sculpture garden and the building that hovers fourteen feet above it.

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