Rock Hill

For Rock Hill, I began with measured drawings of the existing parlor and dining room. Rather than arranging furniture first, I studied circulation, sight lines, natural light, and the relationship between adjoining spaces. The floor plan became the framework from which every subsequent decision evolved.

 

During the 1980s, while working for Porten Sullivan Homebuilders in Bethesda, Maryland, I became familiar with a collection of Federal-style townhomes known as Cloisters West in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. Among the available floor plans, one model in particular—the four-level Franklin—left a lasting impression. Its soaring double-height sunken living room demonstrated how proportion and natural light could define an interior long before furnishings entered the space.

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Years later, after rediscovering the original sales brochure, I returned to that memory with a different perspective. Rather than recreating the home as it was built, I imagined what it could become if the interior architecture were thoughtfully reinterpreted for contemporary living while respecting the character of its traditional exterior.

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Working from the original floor plans and consulting with a structural engineer to confirm the feasibility of the concept, I developed a comprehensive design study that reimagines the principal living spaces through the lens of Architecture Before Objects.

 

The proposal transforms the interior with new architectural volume, expanded openings, carefully considered materials, and a quieter, more restrained composition while preserving the home's Federal-style presence within the Georgetown streetscape.

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Although conceived as a conceptual project, the design was developed as though it were intended for construction, exploring how thoughtful architectural intervention can fundamentally change the experience of a home without compromising its identity.

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Additional project documentation, architectural details, and before photography will be added as this portfolio continues to evolve.