Submissions No Longer Accepted
Home of the world's most powerful individual. Universally recognized symbol of political authority. One of America's greatest tourist attractions. Nerve-center of the world's most complex communications system. The ultimate architectural embodiment of power.
Few people realize the extent of the White House, since much of it is below ground or otherwise concealed by landscaping. The White House includes: Six stories and 55,000 square feet of floor space, 132 rooms and 35 bathrooms, 412 doors, 147 windows, twenty-eight fireplaces, eight staircases, three elevators, five full-time chefs, a tennis court, a bowling alley, a movie theater, a jogging track, a swimming pool, and a putting green. It receives about 5,000 visitors a day.
The original White House design, by James Hoban, was the result of a competition held in 1792. Over the centuries, presidents have added rooms, facilities and even entire new wings, turning the White House into the labyrinthine complex it is today.
What if, instead of in 1792, that competition were to be held today? What would a White House designed in 2008, year of election of the 44th President of the United States, look like?
On occasion of the election of the 44th President of the United States of America Storefront for Art and Architecture, in association with Control Group, challenges you to design a new residence for the world's most powerful individual.
Detailed description of the existing White House's program (you are not obliged to take this into account in your redesign)
The White House Complex
The executive branch of the U.S. Government; the executive mansion of the President of the United States.
The White House is the official home and principal workplace of the President of the United States of America. The house is built of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the late Georgian style. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. As the office of the United States President, the term "White House" is used as a metonym for a United States president's administration, the Executive Office of the President. The property is owned by the National Park Service and is part of the President's Park.
The White House has 132 rooms and 35 bathrooms on six floors. There are also 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases and 3 elevators. Originally known as the "President's Palace," the "President's House," or the "Executive Mansion," President Theodore Roosevelt officially gave the White House its current name in 1901.
Executive Residence
The original residence is in the center. Two colonnades—one on the east and one on the west—designed by Jefferson now serve to connect to the East and West Wings, added later. The Executive Residence houses the president's home, and rooms for ceremonies and official entertaining. The State Floor of the residence building includes the East Room, Green Room, Blue Room, Red Room and State Dining Room, and Family Dining Room. The second floor family residence includes the Yellow Oval Room, East and West Sitting Halls, the President's Dining Room, the Treaty Room, Lincoln Bedroom and Queens Bedroom. The third floor of the White House Residence is where the first family relaxes.
White House Residence Basement
White House Bowling Alley, Carpenters shop, Engineer's shop, Florist shop, Laundry, a storage area.
White House Residence Ground Floor
Vermeil Room, Map Room, China Room, Library, Diplomatic Reception Room, Kitchen, Curator's office, Physician's office.
White House Residence State Floor
North Portico, Entrance Hall, Cross Hall, East Room, Green Room, Blue Room, Red Room, State Dining Room, Family Dining Room, Chief Usher's office, South Portico.
White House Residence Second Floor
Yellow Oval Room, Center Hall, East Sitting Hall, West Sitting Hall, Treaty Room, President's Dining Room, Family kitchen, Truman Balcony, Lincoln bedroom, Queen's Bedroom, Beauty Salon, and three private bedrooms (Master Bed., West Bed. and East Bed.) and dressing rooms/closets.
White House Residence Third Floor
Central Hall, Billiards Room, Workout Room, Music Room, Sun Room, Cedar Room, Linen Room, Green House, Kitchen, Guests Rooms, eight small sloped-ceiling rooms a promenade circles all the attic floor.
The West Wing
West Wing houses the President's office (the Oval Office) and offices of his senior staff, with room for about 50 employees. It also includes the Cabinet Room, where the United States Cabinet meets, and the White House Situation Room. Some members of the President's staff are located in the adjacent Old Executive Office Building, formerly the State War and Navy building, and sometimes known as the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. This portion of the building was used as the setting for the popular television show The West Wing.
Basement West Wing
offices for the president's staff and security, Secret Service Office, White house Situation Room, Watch senter, small conference room, Video Teleconferencing Room, Press Corps Offices, Home Land Security, Briefing Room, Navy Mess, Foyer, Lobby.
White House Situation Room
5000 sq. foot room: It is run by the National Security Council staff for the use of the President of the United States and his advisers (including Homeland Security and the White House chief of staff) to monitor and deal with crises at home and abroad and to conduct secure communications with outside (often overseas) persons. The Situation Room is equipped with secure, advanced communications equipment for the President to maintain command and control of U.S. forces around the world.
Ground Floor West Colonnade
Palm Room, Press Corps Offices, Press Briefing Room, Press Staff Offices.
Ground Floor West Wing
Press Secrertary, Vice President's Office, Roosvelt Room, Lobby, Cabinet Room, Oval office, President's Secretary, Chief of staff Room, Dining Room, Study, Various Misc. Offices.
Second Floor West Wing
Assistant Legislative Affair Office, Assistant Commissioner, President Counselor, Assistant Economic Policy, Assistant Speeches, Assistant President's Personnel, President's Counsel, Assistant Domestic Policy.
Garden
Rose garden
The East Wing
The East Wing, which contains additional office space, was added to the White House in 1942. Among its uses, the East Wing has intermittently housed the offices and staff of the First Lady, and the White House Social Office. Rosalynn Carter, in 1977, was the first to place her personal office in the East Wing and to formally call it the "Office of the First Lady." The East Wing was built during World War II in order to hide the construction of an underground bunker to be used in emergency situations. The bunker has come to be known as the Presidential Emergency Operations Center.
Basement East Wing
PEOC - The President's Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) is a structure that lies beneath the East Wing. It does possess several televisions, telephones and a communications system to coordinate with other government entities during an emergency. During a breach of White House security, to include P-56 airspace violators, the President and other protectees will be relocated to the executive briefing room, next to the PEOC. Day to day, the PEOC is manned around the clock by joint service military officers and NCOs.
Ground Floor East Colonnade
corridor connecting the body of the East Wing to the residence.
Ground Floor East Wing
White House theater, Garden Room, The visitor's entrance.
Second Floor East Wing
First Lady Offices, White House Calligrapher, White House Social Secretary, Correspondence staff, East terrace.
Garden
Jacqueline Kennedy Garden