• Check out this picture of the new Chinese Embassy. [DCMetrocentric] On Van Ness Street, the embassy occupies 300,000 square feet and features east and west office wings linked by an entrance pavilion decorated with Chinese ornamental gardens. To read more about the history and architecture of this and other embassies in the city, check out Larry Van Dyne’s “Foreign Affairs” article, from the February issue.

• Onyx on First, a 14-story apartment building near the Navy Yard Metro, will open sales on Monday. Tours of the building are available. [DCmud]

• The design for the new Watha T. Daniel public library in DC’s Shaw neighborhood looks interesting. [Library Dynamo via Bloomingdale] Renewshaw, however, thinks the design looks, well, pretty unattractive. [Renewshaw]

• Speaking of Renewshaw, the blog reports that The Providence, a residential development in the 1500 block of 11th Street, is ready to open. [Renewshaw]

• Countryside Professional Office Park, a four-building office park in Sterling, was sold to developers CSG Partners for $24 million. [WBJ]

• Redfin, the online real-estate brokerage, has some recommendations for when buyers should hold off on purchasing a home and when they should go for the kill. [Redfin]

More>> Open House Blog | Homes | Real Estate