William L. Slayton House

The William L. Slayton House is a single-family residence in Cleveland Park designed in the International Style, featuring glass walls on the front and back that flood the interior with natural light. The structure combines red brick walls, concrete foundations, and aluminum entrance canopies for a cohesive modern appearance.

The house was built in 1960 for William Slayton, a top official in the urban renewal movement, and stands as one of only three residential designs created by celebrated architect I.M. Pei. The project represented a turning point in how modern residential architecture could evolve.

The house reflects modern design values of its era through open spaces and clean lines that blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors. You can observe how the architecture redefined the way people lived.

The residence sits in the established Cleveland Park neighborhood and remains visible from the street, though it is privately owned and not open for interior access. The modern structure maintains its original condition and demonstrates the quality standards of premium residential design.

The roof features three concrete vaults made from poured concrete that rise about 4 meters (13 feet) high and represent an early test of this technique in American home building. This construction method was experimental and groundbreaking when it was first built.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Architects: I. M. Pei

Architectural style: International Style

GPS coordinates: 38.93655,-77.06721

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:00