Awards

2009 Awards : Merit Award - Design Category

1101 K Street, Wasington, DC

Landscape Architecture Bureau, LLC

Located on K Street near Metro Center, the project is located on the first block of K Street that dispenses with the secondary frontage road that defines the street through most of downtown. The public space available, therefore, expands from the typical 15 feet to 50 feet. This allows the streetscape to serve not only as passageway, but also as plaza and garden.The simple design is based on an overlapping series of curved planters. They allow circulation to flow both to the building entry and along the street, while providing green areas for the public. Additionally, the planters act as an extension of the lobby by bringing the curved gestures of the lobby into the landscape. Using the same stone that is utilized to edge the planters, the landscape architect also designed a granite sculpture that mimics the form of the curvilinear planters. The curved forms also allow an outdoor dining area to be integral to the overall design while at the same time separating diners from passersby. A “forest” of lights, through which pedestrians can walk, make the landscape as interesting at night as during the day.

Jury Comments:

A well-crafted presentation;
As a small project was well thought out;
Liked the sculptural aspects of the few small spaces - this project ranked at the top;