Argentine Ambassador’s Residence
View the architectural study
Interpretive architectural study of the catalogued property.
1815 Q Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
An American Diplomat’s Home
Before 1815 Q Street became Argentina’s official residence, it was the home of a former American ambassador to Argentina. Peter Augustus Jay died there on October 18, 1933. His career had taken him from entry into the U.S. diplomatic service in 1902 to an ambassadorship in Buenos Aires in 1925. [1]
The house stands west of Argentina’s chancery as a separate building. A survey prepared for the embassy’s 2025 restoration tender dates it to 1906 and identifies accommodation extending from a basement through three principal floors to an attic. [2]
An Address for Argentine Hospitality
By November 1973, Ambassador Alejandro Orfila used 1815 Q Street as his residential address, while the chancery occupied 1600 New Hampshire Avenue. [3] [2]
President Raúl Alfonsín and his wife were scheduled to host a reception at the residence on March 20, 1985, at 6:30 p.m., before the presidential party’s planned departure for New York. His Washington itinerary included meetings at the White House, State Department, Congress, and Madison Hotel. [4]
Repairing a Diplomatic House
Argentina still designated 1815 Q Street as its official residence when it sought contractors for major remedial work in 2025. The procurement covered removal of asbestos and other hazardous materials and repairs to the facades. [5]
Diplomatic Use
- Residence listed at this address: Alejandro José Luis Orfila
Documented 1973-11 [3]
The official residence is a separate, deep-plan house west of the chancery. Restoration tenders retain that designation; they do not establish that the ambassador currently lives here.
| Fact | Value | Basis and sources |
|---|---|---|
| Constructed | 1906 (survey report) | verified The 2025 tender’s building survey gives 1906; original completion permit not independently located. |
| Acquired by Argentina | Not verified | unresolved Present ownership verified; original acquisition instrument not located. |
| Neighborhood | Dupont Circle | verified |
| Architect | Not verified | unresolved Survey and tender do not establish original architect. |
| Rooms | ≈40 rooms (est.) | estimated; Approximately 36 distinct enclosed spaces can be identified in the 2025 room-by-room survey after excluding circulation spaces, plus an allowance for unsampled service rooms. Rounded estimate 40; plausible range 35–45. Survey room IDs extend to 59 because halls and other circulation spaces are also numbered. Estimated enclosed rooms, including bathrooms, kitchens and service rooms; excludes corridors, stairs and closets. Counts enclosed rooms of all functions. |
| Floor area | ≈18,000 sq ft | estimated; Modeled stepped footprint ≈380 m² × three full levels, plus ≈310 m² basement and ≈240 m² within the mansard, totals ≈1,690 m². Rounded to 18,000 sq ft; includes basement and allows reduced attic floor area. Approximate gross floor area, rounded from footprint and floor-count assumptions; allow ±20%. Includes the basement. |
| Site area | 6,188 sq ft | verified DC parcel 0134 0831. |
| 2026 Value | $7,808,450 | verified CY1YEAR 2026 ASSESSMENT, parcel 0134 0831. |
| Diplomatic use | 1973 | documented-by; The November 1973 State diplomatic list places Ambassador Alejandro Orfila at 1815 Q Street. A March 15, 1985 State visit program independently identifies the same address as ambassador residence. Use by 1973 is proven; first occupation is earlier or equal. 1973 list PDF p.9, printed p.11; March 1985 press release PDF p.70, printed program p.4. |
Scope and Evidence
The supplied exterior photographs support the three-bay front, long side elevation, balcony and mansard. This proportional study uses the same building assembly as the compound view.
The 2025 plans show basement, first, second, third and attic levels. Restoration notices do not establish current habitation.
- eeeuu.cancilleria.gob.ar
- eeeuu.cancilleria.gob.ar
- maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
- maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
- www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov
- www.reaganlibrary.gov
Research Questions
Where Is Argentinian Ambassador’s Residence?
1815 Q Street NW, Washington, DC 20009.
When Was Argentinian Ambassador’s Residence Built?
Constructed: 1906 (survey report). Record status: verified. The 2025 tender’s building survey gives 1906; original completion permit not independently located. Verified in the record on 2026-10-25.
Who Designed Argentinian Ambassador’s Residence?
Architect: Not verified. Record status: unresolved. Survey and tender do not establish original architect. Verified in the record on 2026-10-25.
What Is the Floor Area of Argentinian Ambassador’s Residence?
Floor area: ≈18,000 sq ft. Record status: estimated. Modeled stepped footprint ≈380 m² × three full levels, plus ≈310 m² basement and ≈240 m² within the mansard, totals ≈1,690 m². Rounded to 18,000 sq ft; includes basement and allows reduced attic floor area. Approximate gross floor area, rounded from footprint and floor-count assumptions; allow ±20%. Includes the basement. Verified in the record on 2026-10-26.
What Is the Site Area of Argentinian Ambassador’s Residence?
Site area: 6,188 sq ft. Record status: verified. DC parcel 0134 0831. Verified in the record on 2026-10-25.
What Is the 2026 Value of Argentinian Ambassador’s Residence?
2026 Value: $7,808,450. Record status: verified. CY1YEAR 2026 ASSESSMENT, parcel 0134 0831. This is a tax assessment, not a verified sale price or market valuation. Verified in the record on 2026-10-25.
Sources
- In Memoriam: Peter Augustus Jay; Peter Augustus Jay, 1877–1933, An Appreciation
November 1933, vol. X, no. 11, printed p. 411 (PDF p. 29)
- Embassy: 2025 residence restoration plans
2025 residence restoration tender, building survey and plans
- Diplomatic List, November 1973
Printed p. 11; PDF p. 9; Argentina, Ambassador Alejandro Orfila
- Program for the official visit of President Raúl Alfonsín, March 1985
Department of State, Office of the Historian Records, series IV, Press Releases, box 26, March 1985 (2 of 4), PR No. 50; PDF pp. 68–70, especially printed program p. 4 (PDF p. 70)
- Licitación Pública EEEUU 1/2025: Circular Modificatoria Nº 1
Notice 76732/25, published October 15, 2025; EX-2025-89175536-APN-DGD#MRE; amended Annex H
- DC common-ownership parcel layer
- Embassy of Argentina: events in 2026
Notes
- The 1985 reception was scheduled in the official visit program; this account does not establish that it occurred.
- Argentina’s acquisition date and the completion of the proposed 2025 repairs remain unresolved.
Related Reading
Cite This Article
Argentine Ambassador’s Residence. Chanceries Diplopedia. Record version 1665672b2fe858a07db6.