Photograph © Maxwell MacKenzie

History Made New

The front façade of this Georgetown rowhouse looks the same as when it was built in 1876. But open the front door and you’re in for a shock.

The owners asked architect Robert M. Gurney to gut the outdated interior and replace it with light-filled spaces that are open and contemporary: a modern kitchen encased in glass and steel, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, an open steel stairway.

The jury called the renovation a “refreshing surprise, complete with exquisite details.” Gurney’s team created large spaces with high ceilings where the owners could display their collection of modern art. But the architects didn’t abandon history altogether—they retained original fireplaces, mantels, and moldings.

Said one judge: “We thought it was a unique take on a historic townhouse.”

Bethesda-based Prill Construction was the contractor.