Park Tower, apartment building in Washington, D.C., United States
Park Tower is a five-story residential building in Washington, D.C.'s Meridian Hill neighborhood, distinguished by its irregular brick form with a tiered roofline. The facade features buff-colored bricks combined with limestone and patterned brick decorations, including chevron shapes, diaper patterns, and oak leaf details that showcase skilled craftsmanship.
The building was designed by architect William Harris and completed in 1929, breaking from the older Beaux-Arts and Colonial Revival styles that dominated Washington at the time. It attracted prominent residents including congressmen during the 1930s and was placed on the D.C. Inventory of Historic Sites in 1988, followed by the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
The name "Park Tower" references its proximity to Meridian Hill Park and the building's distinctive tower-like form. The facade with its geometric patterns and oak leaf ornaments reflects Art Deco philosophy, which sought to express progress and modern elegance through architectural details.
The best way to view the building is by walking along Sixteenth Street, where the facade is easily visible from the sidewalk. Since it remains an active residential building, focus on observing the exterior details and roofline from the public street.
The building's irregular shape with its ziggurat-like tiered roofline was an unexpected departure from traditional residential design in Washington. This deviation from symmetrical forms helped Harris distinguish the building from conventional apartment blocks and made it a standout feature on an already historically important street.
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