Before
A Bethesda family tapped Ali Honarkar of Division1 Architects to replace their dark, 1950s-era home with a prefab abode, as money was a concern. Honarkar instead created a new house on the same footprint that answered his clients’ requirements without breaking the bank.
| Then | Now |
| The house was dilapidated, with vinyl siding and an impractical raised deck. | The new house is clad in warm- hued cedar siding accented by metal panels. The functional deck is at ground level. |
| A problematic slope required steep stairs down from the deck to access the backyard. The owners couldn’t easily get outdoors from the house. | The public spaces in the new house are on the lower level so the living areas open out to the yard. In the kitchen (right of frame), the counter extends outside to house a built-in grill. |
| A product of its era, the house was cramped and dark, with very little natural light. | Abundant windows admit natural light. Outside the two- story living room (left), structural louvers filter the light. |
ARCHITECTURE: Ali R. Honarkar, AIA, Division1 Architects, Washington, DC. BUILDER: Renovations Unlimited, Inc., Washington, DC. PHOTOGRAPHY: Debi Fox.