Architect Thomas Franklin Schneider (1859 – 1938) may be best known for bringing Washington, DC to new heights with The Cairo apartment building. But a block away is another of his 19th century buildings, the mansion at 1700 Q Street, NW. Now called The Q, the mansion was given new life, with a modern renovation that propelled it into the 21st century. After years of neglect and disrepair, a 2014 renovation transformed it from a foreclosed group house into four contemporary condominiums. Today, The Q establishes a new duality – the conversation between old and new. The contrast from outside to inside, from past to present, is impossible to ignore. The building’s 19th century, Romanesque exterior – heavy and imposing – gives way to light and airy units designed for modern living. The Q’s rusticated limestone surface, emphasizing texture and solidity, is juxtaposed with the sleek modern finishes of polished stone, wood, and glass found in each apartment. The relationship between old and new serves to highlight the beauty of each, and allows the once neglected building to breathe new life.
The Q DC/AIA magazine article: https://flipbook.hbp.com/summer2015/#p=84
