After completion of the base building design, the owner of this southwest facing penthouse unit at The District Wharf approached the team to provide design services for their private terrace. Initially a blank slate with wood decking over pedestals, the design capitalized on preserving and framing the spectacular views from the terrace to countless landmarks in the City and beyond. Designed with a family user in mind, the terrace frames the views while creating defined and functional spaces. A custom fire pit and lounge sofa encompasses the southwest corner, taking advantage of the views and sunset on the terrace. On the opposing side, a custom kitchen/bar combo sits between raised planters with cooking herbs flanking it. A pergola structure with operable shades straddles both elements and creates a shaded area for a dining table. The pergola was designed to be as minimalist as possible to preserve the views.

Several challenges were encountered during the design and construction of the project. No element was permitted to be fastened to the structural slab as it would penetrate the waterproofing and disrupt the building’s thermal insulation. Due to the cantilever of the building’s columns and lack of attachment to the slab, the terrace has strict weight restrictions, and the design team had to work closely with the structural engineer and construction team to ensure that the weight was appropriately distributed. Complicating matters was the wind uplift requirements. Since the project is located adjacent to the Potomac River, it is subject to extreme wind loads. Careful consideration had to be given to balance the lightweight elements needed, load distribution, and acceptable weight to combat uplift.