Project Description
FROM THE AIA DC:
The Bayou Bakery is an adaptive reuse of the ca. 1860s carriage house at the Old Naval Hospital, located at the corner of 9th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, SE within the Capitol Hill Historic District. This rehabilitation project was subject to approval by the SHPO, National Park Service under Save Americas Treasures and Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit programs. The project retained a high degree of historic fabric and revealed character defining features, such as a massive granite lintel, salvaged wood ceilings, hidden original herringbone-patterned brickwork and scored concrete flooring. The new uses have public spaces on the first floor (serving areas, dining, conservatory and outdoor garden) and full commercial kitchen and production bakery upstairs. Visible in the main serving area are sliding wood doors, wire-caged lift and a new wood stair. A new window was installed at a blocked original window location when the narrow, hazardous earlier stair was replaced. An eclectic palette of colors, furnishings, lighting and found objects helps to enhance the historic property while expressing the vision of the celebrity chef and his New Orleans concept café.