Architectural studio BLDUS has completed an innovative single-family home called Brown House in Washington DC, featuring sustainable materials and urban farming capabilities. The 1,600-square-foot residence is located along the newly named Overbeck Alley in the historic Capitol Hill neighborhood, representing a growing trend in addressing the city's housing shortage through creative urban development.

The slender two-story home was built on a narrow 18-by-68-foot vacant lot and designed specifically for a couple with a Mastiff dog. Changes to Washington DC's zoning regulations in 2016 have enabled the development of alley houses throughout the capital city, providing new opportunities to increase residential density in underutilized urban spaces.

"The house contributes to a broader mission in DC to add residential density wherever possible as a means to alleviate the housing crisis," explained the architects at BLDUS. The team emphasized that alley houses can significantly improve neglected urban areas that often attract litter and crime.

The Brown House showcases a commitment to sustainable construction through its use of environmentally friendly materials. The exterior features cork cladding overlaid with protective slats made from black locust wood, known for its exceptional durability. The same black locust material was used to create screens for balconies, fencing, and railings throughout the property.

Structural walls are constructed from bamboo, while cellulose and hemp insulation fill cavities in both the walls and the unvented roof system. Interior finishes include spray-cork applications on plywood walls, creating visual continuity with the exterior cork cladding. Exposed bamboo structural panels were treated with PolyWhey, an innovative staining material derived from cheese industry byproducts.

"Materials were sourced as locally as possible and with as light a carbon footprint as possible," the architects noted. The team selected copper for rain gutters and rain chains, the latter serving as an aesthetic and functional system for directing rainwater from the roof to ground level.

The home's layout prioritizes efficiency and long-term livability. The ground floor features an open area combining cooking, dining, and lounging functions on one side, with a bedroom and bathroom on the other. A central skylit staircase leads to the upper level, which contains two additional bedrooms and two bathrooms. The architects designed the space so that "life could be lived entirely on the ground floor if necessary," ensuring accessibility and adaptability for aging residents.

Despite the compact urban site, BLDUS incorporated multiple outdoor spaces throughout the design. The ground level includes a fenced garden and terrace, while the upper level features two screened balconies. The rooftop serves as an urban farm with planter beds that allow residents to grow a significant portion of their food during peak growing seasons.

"Rooftop planter beds allow the inhabitants of Brown House to grow the majority of their diet during some periods of the year and supplement them during others," the architects explained. "These beds utilize rainfall in the most direct way possible, feeding the plants growing in the beds."

The sustainable water management system channels rainwater through metal rain chains running down two sides of the building. One chain directs water to the ground-level garden, while the other connects to a cistern for storing irrigation water. This closed-loop system maximizes the use of natural precipitation for the home's various plantings.

Balancing privacy with natural light was a key design challenge given the narrow lot and urban context. The architects achieved this through carefully positioned operable square windows and wooden screens that provide visual privacy while maintaining connections to the surrounding neighborhood.

The architects emphasized their philosophy of using "healthy" building materials to create spaces that foster well-being. "Spaces made from healthy materials that are natural, straightforward and recognizable allow people to relate to them at a visceral level more than anonymous painted-drywall spaces, endearing them to their users over time," BLDUS stated.

The success of this approach is evidenced by the wildlife the home has attracted. According to the architects, "Two different bird nests have already been made in the enclosed exterior spaces of the house during its first spring, a sign of recognition by the birds of the health and safety afforded by the house."

The Brown House represents a growing movement toward sustainable urban infill development in major American cities facing housing shortages. Similar alley house projects have emerged in other cities, including a Toronto dwelling by Williamson Williamson featuring rotated brick facades and a compact Seattle residence that incorporates ground-level parking.

The project demonstrates how thoughtful design and sustainable materials can transform neglected urban spaces into healthy, productive living environments. By utilizing locally sourced materials, implementing water conservation systems, and incorporating food production capabilities, the Brown House serves as a model for environmentally responsible urban housing development.

The completed home showcases how regulatory changes can enable innovative architectural solutions to urban housing challenges. The project's emphasis on natural materials, efficient space planning, and integration of outdoor growing areas reflects evolving priorities in residential design, particularly in dense urban environments where traditional suburban amenities are not feasible.

Photography of the completed project was provided by Ty Cole, documenting the successful integration of sustainable materials and urban farming elements within the constraints of a narrow alley lot in one of Washington DC's most historic neighborhoods.