Originally a 2-story + basement rowhouse located at the heart of the Petworth neighborhood in Washington, DC, the Delafield House is a ground-up project, with the exception of the existing historic façade. Our design goal was to create a home that could adapt to change over time. The building is designed to oscillate easily between a two-family and one-family configuration, giving the owners the ability to gradually grow into and out of the house as needed. 70% of the building can be used as a 2 bedroom / 2 bath unit, while the remaining 30% of the building is given over to a 1 bedroom/ 1 bath unit. Careful placement of bathrooms and kitchens, along with the integration of a numerous outdoor spaces (highly unusual for a row-house this size) enable the architecture to accommodate its owners as their needs evolve from that of a young couple to a family of four to empty nesters. In doing so, the building becomes much more an active participant in the life of its inhabitants – always ready to anticipate and absorb change.