Alumni Profile: Carolyn Muraskin (B.S. Architecture, ’10)
Two years ago, ARCH alum Carolyn Muraskin (B.S. Architecture, ’10) took the idea of an “alternative career path” in its most literal terms. Five years into firm-life and embarking on the journey towards licensure, Carolyn chose instead to follow her passion for architecture, history and storytelling to launch a Washington, D.C. walking tour company, one that sheds light on the design and development of our Nation’s Capital. Today, DC Design Tours offers seven unique, historical walking tours of Washington, D.C. neighborhoods—including the National Mall, Dupont Circle, Georgetown and Capitol Hill—plus seasonal events, such as a tour of Dupont Circle’s underground, happening this fall. “Our aim is to teach the history behind the brick and mortar,” says Carolyn. Below, Carolyn talks about her favorite spot in D.C. and why Southwest Washington will change the Capital City:
Notable project from this past year: Last year we participated in a collaboration with the Urban Landscape Studies Department at Dumbarton Oaks, developing a program for teens to learn about urban landscape design. Dumbarton Oaks hosted the National Building Museum's Teen Council for a tour of the grounds and surrounding city park. We then supervised a design charrette on mediating the boundary between public and private park land. It was a fantastic way to engage with teens interested in the design world and encourage them to think critically about their own city.
You know D.C. better than most people. What do you think is the most overlooked or unknown architectural treasure in the city? I think Washington, D.C. is still underappreciated for its architecture; visitors often don't realize how much the city offers beyond the Neoclassical temples of downtown (which are breathtaking in their own right). One of my favorite hidden gems is Pomander Walk, which we visit on the Georgetown tour. It's a charming row of ten pastel-painted, 600 square-foot houses tucked into an alley in residential Georgetown. These homes were originally built by Freedmen, formerly enslaved people who moved to Washington, D.C., to build a life after emancipation. Each home housed at least two families; they were pretty squalid living at the time, with no electricity or running water. The African American families that built them were evicted in the 1940s, and the alley was slated for demolition, but it was bought by a developer and converted into what are now high-end condos. Pomander Walk is a great architectural example of the "rags to riches" historical transformation of Georgetown, which is a central theme of our tour.
Innovation/Idea for shaping the built environment that you think holds promise: I've been fascinated with the redevelopment plans in Southwest Washington, which I think show a lot of promise. Right now, this area of the city feels like "backstage" to most D.C. visitors; Independence Avenue south of The National Mall is like the border of the hinterlands, with the Brutalist L'Enfant Plaza ominously looming to the south. It's an absolute shame, because Southwest actually holds some of our most historic buildings, but tourists rarely venture there. Much of the area also fell victim to the Urban Renewal movement of the 1960s, though there are some fascinating examples of modern architecture (rare in our city) that stand today. The innovative part lies in the redevelopment plan, dubbed 'The Warf,' which is marketed to be the next Washington mixed-use heaven. The master plan engages both the waterfront and the existing urban fabric, promising residential, office, retail, hotel and lots of public space. Hopefully, this will be carried through in execution, and succeed in bringing both locals and tourists down river to this historically and architecturally rich part of town.
The last great book you read: Reveille in Washington 1860-1865 by Margaret Leech.
What’s next for you: I started DC Design Tours about two and a half years ago, so my goal ever since has been growth. We're always looking for more ways to build our presence and get people on tour! Collaborations with local design and historical organizations, expanding our online reach, working with leaders in the D.C. tourism industry; I'm constantly pursuing these goals to expand DC Design Tours.