British Ambassador’s Residence
View the architectural study
Interpretive architectural study of the catalogued property.
3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
Lutyens’ red-brick residence faces formal gardens behind its columned portico.
| Fact | Value | Basis and sources |
|---|---|---|
| Constructed | 1930 | verified Work had begun by 20 February 1928; historical sources place residence completion in 1930, and Blakely’s archival chronology explicitly places initial occupation after Lutyens’s May 1930 visit. No exact move-in day is asserted. The FCDO 2023 statement gives construction as 1928, without separating completion and occupancy. |
| Acquired by the United Kingdom | 1925 (site) | verified; May 1925 exchange agreement for original lot 40. Adjacent garden lots 38/39 were acquired in November 1930. |
| Neighborhood | Observatory Circle | verified |
| Architect | Sir Edwin Lutyens | verified Frederick H. Brooke was local supervising architect. |
| Rooms | 40–70 est. | estimated; Editorial program estimate for the multi-storey Lutyens residence: 8–12 reception/library/dining rooms, 15–25 family/guest rooms, and 17–33 kitchen, service and staff rooms. Excludes the Old Chancery and courtyard wings, circulation and bathrooms. Room allocations are assumed; a measured inventory is unavailable. Estimated room total; a complete room inventory is unavailable. |
| Floor area | 117,100 sq ft | verified; Residence-estate building area, including the Old Chancery: 76,894 + 40,219 sq ft from distinct CAMA buildings 1 and 2 on SSL 2147/0040. The row's land and valuation already cover this same residence/Old Chancery estate (lots 0040,0038,0039). Do not describe 117,113 sq ft as the Lutyens residence building alone. |
| Estate area | 220,191 sq ft | verified; Historic residence and Old Chancery estate: lots 0040, 0038 and 0039, including gardens. The area covers the residence estate and its grounds. |
| 2026 Value | $59.7M | verified; Sum of nonoverlapping estate parcels: 2147/0040, 2147/0038, 2147/0039. Active 2026 DC ITSPE ASSESSMENT; land plus improvements. Not proposed value, tax owed, sale price or leasehold value. |
| Site area | 220,200 sq ft | verified; Sum of nonoverlapping estate parcels: 2147/0040, 2147/0038, 2147/0039. DC ITSPE LANDAREA, recorded square feet. Roads and unrelated neighboring parcels excluded. |
Scope and Evidence
Work had begun by 20 February 1928; historical sources place residence completion in 1930, and Blakely’s archival chronology explicitly places initial occupation after Lutyens’s May 1930 visit. No exact move-in day is asserted. The FCDO 2023 statement gives construction as 1928, without separating completion and occupancy.
Frederick H. Brooke was local supervising architect.
Residence-estate building area, including the Old Chancery: 76,894 + 40,219 sq ft from distinct CAMA buildings 1 and 2 on SSL 2147/0040. The row's land and valuation already cover this same residence/Old Chancery estate (lots 0040,0038,0039). Do not describe 117,113 sq ft as the Lutyens residence building alone. The valuation and land area cover the residence estate, including the Old Chancery.
Aggregate land $24,014,400 plus improvements $35,651,310. Do not describe as residence-only building valuation.
The residence estate is the non-overlapping group of lots 2147 0040, 0038 and 0039. The assessment covers all buildings and land on these lots, including the Old Chancery.
Estimated room total; a complete room inventory is unavailable.
- d3tenders.com
- gloverparkhistory.com
- hansard.parliament.uk
- maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
- maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
- maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
- maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
- roomfordiplomacy.com
- washingtonembassygardens.wordpress.com
- www.gov.uk
Research Questions
Where Is British Ambassador’s Residence?
3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC. Approximate point on the principal residence, interpreted from DC GIS roof outlines and the supplied aerial views. The point locates the building within the larger historic estate.
When Was British Ambassador’s Residence Built?
Constructed: 1930. Record status: verified. Work had begun by 20 February 1928; historical sources place residence completion in 1930, and Blakely’s archival chronology explicitly places initial occupation after Lutyens’s May 1930 visit. No exact move-in day is asserted. The FCDO 2023 statement gives construction as 1928, without separating completion and occupancy. Verified in the record on 2026-10-21.
Who Designed British Ambassador’s Residence?
Architect: Sir Edwin Lutyens. Record status: verified. Frederick H. Brooke was local supervising architect. Verified in the record on 2026-10-21.
What Is the Floor Area of British Ambassador’s Residence?
Floor area: 117,100 sq ft. Record status: verified. Residence-estate building area, including the Old Chancery: 76,894 + 40,219 sq ft from distinct CAMA buildings 1 and 2 on SSL 2147/0040. The row's land and valuation already cover this same residence/Old Chancery estate (lots 0040,0038,0039). Do not describe 117,113 sq ft as the Lutyens residence building alone. Verified in the record on 2026-10-24.
What Is the 2026 Value of British Ambassador’s Residence?
2026 Value: $59.7M. Record status: verified. Sum of nonoverlapping estate parcels: 2147/0040, 2147/0038, 2147/0039. Active 2026 DC ITSPE ASSESSMENT; land plus improvements. Not proposed value, tax owed, sale price or leasehold value. This is a tax assessment, not a verified sale price or market valuation. Verified in the record on 2026-10-24.
What Is the Site Area of British Ambassador’s Residence?
Site area: 220,200 sq ft. Record status: verified. Sum of nonoverlapping estate parcels: 2147/0040, 2147/0038, 2147/0039. DC ITSPE LANDAREA, recorded square feet. Roads and unrelated neighboring parcels excluded. Verified in the record on 2026-10-24.