D.C. Tudor Gets an Outdoor Refresh Suited For Its Park Surroundings

It’s not often that a home in a major city comes with a wooded one-acre lot,  so when the owners purchased an 8,500-square-foot Tudor home in Washington D.C.’s Rock Creek Park in 2023, they knew they wanted to make better use of the outdoor space.  

The site was exceptional, but the amenities needed fresh eyes. The existing pool was outdated and undersized, and the detached two-car garage did not meet met their needs.

"One of the main problem areas were the grounds and pool. It just needed to be done," says Wayne Adams of BarnesVanze Architects, a local firm that has been involved in several renovations at the home over the years. "The idea came about for phase three of this project to create a new poolhouse with a two-car garage and a guest suite."

The homeowners also brought on Bowie, Md.-based builder Horizon Builders and Washington, D.C.-based Arentz Landscape Architecture to help rework the site. The interior design arm of North Carolina-based PLATT Homes was also selected to work on the 1,800-square-foot guest home's interior. 

Building on a Long Relationship 

The Tudor home was initially built in 1927, with designs from George Ray, a prominent Washington D.C.-based architect at that time. While this latest  renovation includes the new structure and upgraded pool area, the home has seen various renovations over the past three decades. 

For BarnesVanze, this most recent phase marks their third renovation on the property. Previous projects included softening the heavy Tudor-style detailing and making the interiors feel brighter and more spacious while still respecting the home's character. 

In an earlier phase, the exterior granite was whitewashed to both modernize the home and to protect the walls from moisture buildup over time. 

“The idea was to protect the interior so that the water doesn’t get trapped, and at the same time, we were trying to modernize the interiors,” says Adams, noting that the exterior treatment also complemented the updated interiors.

Creating an Outdoor Space That's Meant to be Enjoyed

The most significant transformation occurred outdoors, where the steep site was reshaped into a tiered landscape with stone terraces at each level, a swimming pool, and a recreation area complete with a climbing wall, a half-basketball court, and an in-ground trampoline.

The new guest house was also built into the slope. The structure spans three stories, each approximately 600 square feet. A newly completed driveway winds through the site, meeting up with second floor of the structure where the garage is located.

The top level houses a guest suite, with a full bedroom and bathroom, while the lower level houses a kitchen and seating area. 

Inside, the spaces are bright and airy, matching the earlier upgrades in the main home. Bi-fold doors open to the pool terrace, providing a connection to the outdoors. 

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While modern, the accessory dwelling unit manages to match the rich character seen throughout the original Tudor home. The structure is finished in white, textured stucco that complements the home's whitewashed granite, while metal awnings and traditional gables reference the Tudor era. 

“Although the pool house introduces a more contemporary lifestyle, it remains connected to the character of the original Tudor estate. We weren't interested in creating a stark contrast,” says Adams. 

Working With a Slope

The site's steep slope served as a major hurdle for the project. However, the team viewed it as an opportunity, positioning the garage at the driveway level and tucking the lower level of the guest house into the slope below.

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Adding landscaping to each tier makes the space feel private, despite the city just beyond the park.

“The result creates a secluded experience around the pool. When you're seated there, you don't even see the main house, only the surrounding landscape and the edge of Rock Creek Park,” says Adams.