Page 54 - ArchDC Fall 2018

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“Art wall” in the Ana restaurant. Photo © Michael Moran Restaurant.

Throughout the building, the cool grey metal of the The special events component of the project, while
base building structure and dark-stained oak paneling largely invisible to the typical restaurant or wine-tasting
complement the yellow pine beams and columns. In the patron, was clearly a major design determinant, often in
restaurant area, the core walls are clad in an irregular surprising ways. “We kept asking ourselves, ‘What
grid of fiber-cement panels that introduce a contrasting would photographers see when they were shooting a
texture to the space. One of those walls is designated an wedding or other event here?’” Young recounted.
“art wall” that is currently occupied by a grid of pop-art “Everything—the positions of exit signs, everything—
presidential portraits. was considered with visuals in mind.”
On the mezzanine and second floor, the interior The visuals are particularly impressive when looking
architects wanted to avoid hard, solid ceilings in order to out from the top-floor deck toward the increasingly
prevent the spaces from feeling too low and cramped. At attractive Anacostia watershed and the burgeoning Yards
the same time, they wanted to obscure mechanical area, which was recently named by Forbes magazine “one
equipment that could detract from the elegance of the of the 12 coolest neighborhoods around the world.” It is
interior. To achieve these ends, they used rows of dark an aspect that was scarcely imaginable 20, 10, or
wood slats to define ceiling planes while preserving a hint perhaps even just five years ago. The District Winery
of additional space above. The insistent geometry of the represents another major step in the effort to turn a
slats is interrupted by dramatically angled, crisscrossing once-neglected part of the city into a beautiful and
slots that also accommodate light fixtures. According to lively destination.
Young, the lively pattern of parallel slats and angled slots
recalls the famous city plan of Washington, with its grid
of streets overlaid with diagonal avenues.

Bridal dressing room,
with wine casks
52 EAT, DRINK, AND GET MARRIED visible in the background.