Architect Reveals Hidden Details of Washington, D.C. | Architectural Digest

Today Architectural Digest takes you to Washington, D.C. for a walking tour of The National Mall with architect Nicholas Potts, highlighting some complex architectural details hidden in plain sight. The development of our nation's capitol was drastically reimagined by 1902's McMillan plan, implemented primarily to improve the design of the city's monuments and parks. Nick Potts brings this evolution to life, highlighting some remaining vestiges of 19th century D.C. while explaining how the city changed around them - including the White House itself.
Check out Nicholas Potts here:
Website: nicholasgpotts.com/
Instagram: / nicholasgpotts
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Пікірлер: 232

  • @Jaffa45
    @Jaffa452 жыл бұрын

    These videos are far superior than the tours of celebrity homes.

  • @benb995

    @benb995

    2 жыл бұрын

    agreed

  • @edwardkravchuk5659

    @edwardkravchuk5659

    2 жыл бұрын

    Agreed more of this please!

  • @DKGifford19608

    @DKGifford19608

    2 жыл бұрын

    Yes

  • @StarCrusher.

    @StarCrusher.

    2 жыл бұрын

    I only ever watch these type of Vids. The grand Central one is still unmatched.

  • @tylerhatfield3892

    @tylerhatfield3892

    2 жыл бұрын

    These are celebrity home tours.

  • @hispid1
    @hispid12 жыл бұрын

    Great stuff AD - Can we have more of these please.

  • @seekhimwithallyourheartand3358

    @seekhimwithallyourheartand3358

    2 жыл бұрын

    Repent to Jesus Christ “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

  • @TroupeGoal

    @TroupeGoal

    2 жыл бұрын

    Was about to say the same. Best content on the channel.

  • @mjj7632

    @mjj7632

    2 жыл бұрын

    I agree

  • @ColonelPanic007
    @ColonelPanic0072 жыл бұрын

    Great video. AD should make a series highlighting the architectural treasures and history of each state.

  • @sophiamusiayar

    @sophiamusiayar

    20 күн бұрын

    Love this idea!

  • @remsan03
    @remsan032 жыл бұрын

    It's sad that videos of celebrity homes got millions of view (which is why AD keeps making them), and yet an enlightening, educational and insightful videos like these are less popular. I hope AD keeps making these type of quality videos.

  • @LittleTut
    @LittleTut2 жыл бұрын

    I'm a DC native, NE DC, and live about 1 mile from US Capitol to the north. This video makes me want to plan to go out and explore this beautiful city as I don't go out and about to see to capture this beautiful city like I should. My mother had her retirement celebration inside of the Smithsonian Castle; she worked as a payroll clerk still have those photos taken at the celebration in the early mid 70's. She worked for the government many many years. I remember and still have the photos of rockets that stood outside of the castle, now garden area facing Independence Avenue SW DC. 🤗

  • @decounltd5485

    @decounltd5485

    Жыл бұрын

    @@nonyabuziness5082 Wow! You definitely have never visited this world class city. While there is crime in some parts of the city like any other big city in the world, there is nest to zero crime on the national mall where this video is being shot. You are clearly uninformed and a negative person.

  • @pjaybasmaignee

    @pjaybasmaignee

    Жыл бұрын

    @@nonyabuziness5082 no he did not why lie?

  • @hungrysoles
    @hungrysoles2 жыл бұрын

    A very intelligent and literate look at architectural details in D.C. You should do a video on the Pension Building and the Columbia Historical Society as well as the classic foreign embassies.

  • @soledieairvideos5974
    @soledieairvideos59742 жыл бұрын

    As someone who just moved to DC this is a really great videos and I makes me want to explore even more

  • @waedidmyhandlechange
    @waedidmyhandlechange2 жыл бұрын

    FINALLY! I had resigned myself to the fact that this series was dead. I'm so glad you continued it.

  • @davidcattin7006
    @davidcattin7006 Жыл бұрын

    Retired and moved from DC ten years ago. My walk to work took me straight across the mall, and it was amazing every time! Thanks for the memories!

  • @DaveTexas
    @DaveTexas2 жыл бұрын

    I think I’m in love...😍🥰😍 Nicholas Potts is so good at describing the architecture in a succinct, knowledgeable, technical yet accessible way. I love listening to him talk as well. A great voice. Doesn’t hurt that he’s adorably cute...

  • @ski5566
    @ski55662 жыл бұрын

    Would love a video like this on DC row-houses.

  • @TristouMTL
    @TristouMTL2 жыл бұрын

    Aren't you just brilliant at explaining things, Mr. Potts! Thank you for such a condensed and interesting overview!

  • @bluebox2000

    @bluebox2000

    Жыл бұрын

    I love his valley/sorority girl uptalk at the end of sentences. So cute!

  • @v-boyinla8404
    @v-boyinla84044 ай бұрын

    Loved learning all this. This guy's narrative is A-plus.

  • @Francisays
    @Francisays Жыл бұрын

    I've lived in DC for about 20 plus years. This video is informative and sparks a desire to learn about architecture, which was been a latent interest for some time. I would love to see more in videos that point out certain architecture structure with marked lines and it's terminology, like what you did at time mark 2:42. This really is a good video to rewatch, take notes and go out and explore. Good job. Thanks! :)

  • @sallysomers5251
    @sallysomers52512 жыл бұрын

    I could watch this over and over and pick up something new each time. Fascinating and very well done. More like this please!

  • @andrewlee4050
    @andrewlee40502 жыл бұрын

    Very informative, educational, and interesting, More of this please AD, Ty!

  • @valarya
    @valarya2 жыл бұрын

    FASCINATING and well done! Please make this a series 🙌

  • @pjeverly
    @pjeverly Жыл бұрын

    These are such good videos. Really enjoy them all. Far more than I would ever have thought. Keep up the great work.

  • @infraredthomas
    @infraredthomas2 жыл бұрын

    This was so interesting! I've been to Washington D.C. a couple of times and visited some of the featured buildings. This filled in a lot of gaps of how and why some buildings were designed the way they were.

  • @ambreeniram2268
    @ambreeniram22682 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for sharing. All the buildings are gorgeous. Timeless marvels of architecture with rich heritage and history in every bit.

  • @maurobrunosolavergara5041
    @maurobrunosolavergara5041 Жыл бұрын

    Love every video you made with Nick. I hope you make more in the future!

  • @mariamcclanahan470
    @mariamcclanahan4702 жыл бұрын

    Really enjoyed this educational and informative video! Thanks

  • @seekhimwithallyourheartand3358

    @seekhimwithallyourheartand3358

    2 жыл бұрын

    Repent to Jesus Christ “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

  • @mjj7632
    @mjj76322 жыл бұрын

    Keep these kind of videos coming, these are the best!

  • @sandraschmied6459
    @sandraschmied6459 Жыл бұрын

    Wonderful! I love going into the city. Now I will see things with a new perspective. Also, Christmas week is great time to stroll around the mall and go to museums because no one is there!

  • @ayaazthaliph2108
    @ayaazthaliph21082 жыл бұрын

    very much enjoyed the architectural elements used through out Washington DC. Informative and AD should make more videos like these.

  • @strawberriebabieex3
    @strawberriebabieex3 Жыл бұрын

    great job. really enjoyed and a discussion about architecture that should take place more often. thanks for posting it.

  • @BillyAlabama
    @BillyAlabama Жыл бұрын

    Wonderful!! The Truman Balcony was actually added before the gutting of the White House. When Margaret’s piano leg fell through the floor engineers were dispatched for a detailed inspection. When they were finished the man reporting to Truman said something to the effect of, “Mr. President. Your balcony is the only part of the house not in immediate a state of immediate collapse.” I’ve always loved this story.

  • @tessat338
    @tessat3382 жыл бұрын

    It's that time of year, when the world comes to visit us here in the DCA!!! Spring break in DC to see the cherry blossoms and the flowering trees, while taking the kids to see the national monuments and the museums! My mother, best friend and I recently drove into town from just outside the Beltway to see a play at the National Theater and were parking in the Ronald Reagan office building. Sure enough, we met a family of tourists who were getting together in DC from the North (Ohio) and the South (Florida). They weren't going to see the play, but were just going to walk around the area to see the White House grounds. It was so much fun to see their enthusiasm to visit our beautiful Nation's Capitol. Taking the Metro is a good idea during the day, but I agree with their decision to use a car in the evening when the Metro trains don't run as frequently. If you are planning to drive into the city during the day to see the museums on the Mall, you have a better chance of finding parking in front of the National Gallery of Art. Also, if you are not going to go to the museum first thing in the morning, try around 12 pm, because the people who DID come first thing, often leave at that time and you can grab up their parking spaces.

  • @samanthacbecker95
    @samanthacbecker952 жыл бұрын

    love this! would love a video on the historic row homes in the residential very old neighborhoods of DC

  • @tmp1111
    @tmp11112 жыл бұрын

    Really nice topic. DC has a lot of interesting little layout tidbits. All the traffic circles in DC were planned to confuse the enemy.

  • @MrOu83

    @MrOu83

    2 жыл бұрын

    tee- They (traffic circles) were not planned to confuse enemies, invaders. That’s just a myth that has been spread for ages now.

  • @dtv2031
    @dtv20312 жыл бұрын

    Love this type of video. More please!

  • @rembeadgc
    @rembeadgc2 жыл бұрын

    I appreciate this run-down and elaboration on buildings that I see regularly and enjoy, not just for what they contain but also for their visual presence and what they represent about man and God.

  • @1rewd133
    @1rewd133 Жыл бұрын

    I grew up and lived in the DC metro area, and downtown DC was my playground. The city plan, architecture, and landscaping in place was not only beautiful but also a learning experience for this "lay architect", aspects of which I bring to my own one man design firm in a growing rural area. I was so lucky.

  • @gregcat100
    @gregcat100 Жыл бұрын

    So informative! I really enjoy these videos! thank you.

  • @highwayaisle
    @highwayaisle2 жыл бұрын

    Enjoyed this! More of these pls!

  • @jamescollins2499

    @jamescollins2499

    2 жыл бұрын

    Hello Colleen , i hope you are having a wonderful day so far ?

  • @flatout420
    @flatout4204 ай бұрын

    this architect is awesome how he describe every detail and nuances

  • @LaBucci
    @LaBucci2 жыл бұрын

    Yes please do more of these!

  • @akarayan
    @akarayan Жыл бұрын

    Great video. I.M. Pei’s buildings are a true scar on the face of whatever city is unfortunate enough to house them. Truly sad that building is on our National Mall.

  • @laverite1050
    @laverite10502 жыл бұрын

    The best Architectural digest video. That was my playground growing up. Would have liked him to add about the Lincoln, Jefferson, and Washington Monument while he was at it.

  • @pNo415

    @pNo415

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! Was caught off guard when he left the Mall! But overall fantastic and very well done.

  • @kethsharakhlok1976
    @kethsharakhlok1976 Жыл бұрын

    A good educational touring info. accompanied by excellent view of each building's grand image. Many foreign visitors like seeing most buildings in DC as they remind them of similar ones in Paris. ✌️🕊️

  • @xxRangerBlue
    @xxRangerBlue2 жыл бұрын

    Pierre Charles L’Enfant - There is only so much that can be covered in a 15 minute video. I think any mention of the French influence in the architecture of Washington, D.C. should warrant a mention of L”Enfant, commissioned by George Washington to design the new capitol and influenced by the broad avenues of the Paris of his youth. So important was L’Enfant’s contribution that his cenotaph occupies pride of place directly in front of Arlington House affording a view across the Potomac to the city influenced by his design. For the history of the development of the layout of Washington, D.C. see Grand Avenues: The Story of Pierre Charles L'Enfant by Scott W. Berg

  • @emilyhoward8918
    @emilyhoward89182 жыл бұрын

    Wonderful tour!

  • @fabianlawstudies9497
    @fabianlawstudies94972 жыл бұрын

    Excellent! Thanks for sharing! 👍🏾

  • @wittyusername_6
    @wittyusername_62 жыл бұрын

    Loved this! Please do more.

  • @kellygilbert-rios6319
    @kellygilbert-rios63192 жыл бұрын

    That was a fantastic informative architectural tour. Thank you very much. Excellent!!

  • @alastairdallas
    @alastairdallas2 жыл бұрын

    Wow. This man pairs a lot of history knowledge with a deep understanding of the purposes and motivations of architecture. I know a compact, well-shot and edited video doesn't just happen, either. I will look for the other videos in this series. A+ (which could be a name for the series, but I just copyrighted it. 🙂)

  • @boxsterman77
    @boxsterman772 жыл бұрын

    I had read somewhere that the eschewing of ornamentation for The National Gallery of Art (West Building) was in recognition that, at it's size, had it featured much in the way of relief, pillars, recesses etc., it would have competed with, and perhaps visually surpassed the capitol--which has a smaller, albeit more prominently placed footprint. I think you are revealing an unfortunate trait of some architects where focus in exclusively paid to the building as a singular expression without regard to its neighbors and context. But Pope and Pei were quite mindful of the placement of their buildings. Across the Avenue, you will notice that the Candandian Embassy does a find job of taking cues from both the West and East Buildings and combing the respective themeless masterfully. Buildings that disregard context and placement are arrogant buildings--and, yes, sometimes that is the point.

  • @theophaneantipater6333
    @theophaneantipater63332 жыл бұрын

    History and Architecture = winner combo !

  • @tigerhockey7
    @tigerhockey78 ай бұрын

    This was FANTASTIC

  • @jakebe4915
    @jakebe49152 жыл бұрын

    This was stunning. Educational..historical.. Bravo.. Keep it up. Do New Orleans or San Francisco next.

  • @danithurber
    @danithurber9 ай бұрын

    Love this ❤ Thank you for this video

  • @NoneFB
    @NoneFB2 жыл бұрын

    Hi. Nice going on this! Plan on doing part II: covering the other buildings. Natural History, Archives, Native Americans, Air and Space, the new African Americans Museum. Jefferson, FDR, Lincoln, WW II, Viet Nam. Engraving, Holocaust, Washington Monument. Treasury, Red Cross, OAR. Federal Reserve, Interior. You offer much insight. Keep it going!

  • @NinjaBooKitty
    @NinjaBooKitty2 жыл бұрын

    Oh how I miss DC so much! This was amazing! :)

  • @tataarchitect3493
    @tataarchitect34932 жыл бұрын

    The architect kinda looks like Anthony Bridgerton. I really love this video content, hope AD will do more of it.

  • @seekhimwithallyourheartand3358

    @seekhimwithallyourheartand3358

    2 жыл бұрын

    Repent to Jesus Christ “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

  • @ieceineint452

    @ieceineint452

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@seekhimwithallyourheartand3358 so tru

  • @cestusfr
    @cestusfr2 жыл бұрын

    Even though different in style the Smithsonian reminds me of Schloss Drachenburg PS best video so far and i subbed years ago! please do more videos about architecture!

  • @AndrewNation13
    @AndrewNation132 жыл бұрын

    This guy is an awesome host to what is probably the most celebrated location on earth and all its architectural keys and intricacies . Thank-you sooo much my dude, Sigma 4 Life 😌

  • @tyronie
    @tyronie2 жыл бұрын

    I love this series

  • @Azrael8
    @Azrael82 жыл бұрын

    You missed out on the National Archives and Navy Plaza. That's a really pretty area from an architectural standpoint.

  • @Shivdotb
    @Shivdotb2 жыл бұрын

    Just wanna say I lovoooee these videos

  • @jelsner5077
    @jelsner5077 Жыл бұрын

    Lovely presentation.

  • @havingfun3619
    @havingfun36192 жыл бұрын

    Very cool. Although I've seen them all, the history you brought to the architecture is very important.

  • @LEGACYFOCUS
    @LEGACYFOCUS11 ай бұрын

    Executive building is super gorgeous ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤...the design is perfection

  • @javierpacheco8234
    @javierpacheco82342 жыл бұрын

    I love classical architecture or america's architecture. I hope in the future i design one when i become an architect.

  • @Allison.Marshall
    @Allison.Marshall2 жыл бұрын

    Would love to see the reasoning behind the Hirshorn Museum on the National Mall. I always thought it was a bit of an eyesore when compared to it's neighbors.

  • @heyyyitshewan4816
    @heyyyitshewan4816 Жыл бұрын

    so good!!

  • @derrikcupps
    @derrikcupps2 жыл бұрын

    Love this video

  • @thomasbowers1210
    @thomasbowers12102 ай бұрын

    I hope we can get a video of the rest of Washington DC because I would love to hear about the details on the post office building!

  • @stevemiller7949
    @stevemiller79492 жыл бұрын

    Love this. So so good.🙂🙂🙃❤️

  • @JWinslow11
    @JWinslow112 жыл бұрын

    Fantastic!

  • @CD318
    @CD318 Жыл бұрын

    Nick Potts ROCKS!

  • @ElliottLaw
    @ElliottLaw2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you.

  • @muahlakaparak
    @muahlakaparak2 жыл бұрын

    very interesting house design..nice video

  • @jplourde11
    @jplourde11 Жыл бұрын

    More Nick Potts!!!!!!!!

  • @LAUS-DEO-HAWAII
    @LAUS-DEO-HAWAII Жыл бұрын

    VERY NICE VIDEO, VERY INFORMATIVE, THANKS YOU.

  • @TheNoerdy
    @TheNoerdy2 жыл бұрын

    Please do one for NYC!

  • @FalconsEye58094
    @FalconsEye580942 жыл бұрын

    nothing has this level of detail anymore

  • @emmawilliams2178
    @emmawilliams21782 жыл бұрын

    more DC content please!!!

  • @thequietstag4366
    @thequietstag43662 жыл бұрын

    Okay, 9:05. What's with the orange statues?

  • @ginaroussos

    @ginaroussos

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you!! I’ve been reading thru all these comments like why has no one mentioned the weird orange statues that are in front of multiple buildings?? I was hoping someone knew what it was lol. I’m guessing it was some kind of art installation? If you find out plz let us know

  • @LeetMath
    @LeetMath2 жыл бұрын

    the executive building is crazy to look at, it seems really extreme with use of columns

  • @lukedixon4832
    @lukedixon48322 жыл бұрын

    Now THIS is good content

  • @carolinejohnson22
    @carolinejohnson22 Жыл бұрын

    Really good...

  • @lmgtulsa
    @lmgtulsa2 жыл бұрын

    This was an absolutely cool vid. Thanks for making it.

  • @laurenm3148
    @laurenm31488 ай бұрын

    Absolutely wild to be on the Mall and not at least go over the more diverse museums and the widespread Brutalism. Some missed opportunities here for expanding on more than just Greco-Roman and Neoclassicism.

  • @DavidSmith-fv1jf
    @DavidSmith-fv1jf Жыл бұрын

    wonderful

  • @NicksDynasty
    @NicksDynasty Жыл бұрын

    Beautiful city

  • @holabrand6599
    @holabrand65992 жыл бұрын

    I love this 🥰🥰🥰

  • @Michaelengelmann
    @Michaelengelmann Жыл бұрын

    We have similar brick townhomes in Old City, Philadelphia. The first US capital. Wonder how Philly would look if it was always the capital or it moved then came back

  • @Allaiya.
    @Allaiya.2 жыл бұрын

    I love the neo-classical style.

  • @LMays-cu2hp
    @LMays-cu2hp2 жыл бұрын

    Very nice...

  • @Lychiis
    @Lychiis2 жыл бұрын

    wow!! Early!

  • @ElarBela
    @ElarBela Жыл бұрын

    Nicholas Potts, Sir, where is the renaissance with zet/zi pronunciation from?

  • @mellonmarshall
    @mellonmarshall2 жыл бұрын

    this is col, but can I ask what is with the orange people that all out and about in the Smithsonian, please

  • @dr.jorgerice6881
    @dr.jorgerice6881 Жыл бұрын

    I wish the Library of Congress was included. Great video though!

  • @handballtrick
    @handballtrick2 жыл бұрын

    Go to some iconic factories AD.

  • @marinedrive5484
    @marinedrive54842 жыл бұрын

    I had no idea that The National Mall is so eclectic - I've only visited it once many years ago, on my first trip overseas from NZ. Each of the buildings is very interesting in its own right. However, I can't help but think that it would have been better - from a purely aesthetic point of view - to have continued to build in the neoclassical style; paying homage to the original Georgian buildings. It's not necessarily a hodgepodge, but it could have been better coordinated. Well done AD for producing these informative videos.

  • @jonrichcorpuz2380
    @jonrichcorpuz23802 жыл бұрын

    wish i saw you here! i live 35 min from here

  • @artiemicheline816
    @artiemicheline816 Жыл бұрын

    Can you do the Willard hotel in dc

  • @brethrentoall4769
    @brethrentoall47692 жыл бұрын

    🔥🔥🔥

  • @FullOfMalarky
    @FullOfMalarky Жыл бұрын

    11:11 meanwhile in Canada… the national art gallery is a glass building.

  • @HavNCDy

    @HavNCDy

    Жыл бұрын

    If they only met somewhere in the middle 😂

  • @chrisnorman9980
    @chrisnorman99802 жыл бұрын

    Isn’t the Smithsonian “castle” the only building that sticks out of line with the other buildings on the Mall?

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