Water | Desire: Design of a Responsible Urban Retreat in Georgetown, Washington, DC

• Main Author: Zimmerli, Tanya
• Format: Others
• Published: VCU Scholars Compass 2013
• Subjects: interior design; Georgetown; water; desire; Art and Design; Arts and Humanities
• Online Access: http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/3027; http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4026&context=etd

The design of an urban retreat within an industrial building in Georgetown, DC provides an opportunity to experience water in the built environment. The location of the building between two bodies of water—the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and the Potomac River—creates an opportunity to connect water and the visitors. Management of the water to ensure responsible resource use was researched and accommodated in the design. Water is further used to shape the space and the moods created by the volumes, materials and finishes. The final project provides a luxurious shower and locker room, a series of pools, and a tea room, open to the sky, across three levels.