OPEN DIALOGUE  Massachusetts-based Safdie Architects designed the United States Institute of Peace headquarters in 2011 to foster the organization?s role in international conflict resolution, with two dramatic atria expressing openness and transparency. It was the first LEED Gold-certified building on the National Mall.  At night, the structure?s domed lattice roofs glow like beacons on the capital skyline. Photo: Timothy Hursley

MAKING HISTORY  The long-awaited Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture opened its doors in 2016, within view of the Washington Monument. Its three-tiered exterior, designed by architect David Adjaye using 3,600 bronze-hued, cast-aluminum panels, evokes ornate ironwork created by slaves in 19th-century New Orleans. Lead Designers: David Adjaye, OBE; Philip Freelon, FAIA, Freelon, Adjaye, Bond/SmithGroup. Construction: Clark/Smoot/Russell.
OUT OF ITALY  The 2014 debut of Fiola Mare brought high style and Italian coastal fare to Washington Harbor. Inspired by eateries dotting the Adriatic shore, interiors by HapstakDemetriou+ combine coffered ceilings, intimate banquettes dressed in nautical stripes and views of the Potomac River. James Beard Award-winning chef Fabio Trabocchi has earned a Michelin star for his seasonal menus and artful presentation. fiolamaredc.com  Photo: Greg Powers

DIPLOMATIC TIES  House of Sweden?s blond wood, glass and stone exterior casts a glow on the Georgetown waterfront. Home to ...