Watergate Complex Architectural Model

This architectural object is inspired by the Watergate Complex, one of the most distinctive works of late modernist architecture in the United States.

Designed as a sculptural ensemble of residential, office, and hotel buildings along the Potomac River, the Watergate Complex is defined by its sweeping curved façades and strong horizontal rhythm — qualities that translate especially well into architectural object form.

Read the full Watergate Complex architecture guide 

 

A modernist landmark, shaped by geometry

 

Completed in 1971, the Watergate Complex introduced a radically different architectural language to Washington, D.C. Rather than conforming to the city’s traditionally rigid grid, the complex unfolds as a series of curved forms that respond directly to the riverfront site.

This architectural model focuses on the elements that define the building’s identity:

• continuous curved façades

• layered balcony rhythms

• clear, legible massing

When distilled into an object, these features become more pronounced, revealing the underlying logic of the design.

 

Why the Watergate Complex works as an architectural model

 

The Watergate Complex is particularly well suited to interpretation as an architectural model because its design is driven by:

• repetition rather than ornament

• form rather than surface detail

• movement and rhythm across a large composition

At reduced scale, the complex reads as a single sculptural gesture — allowing its architectural intent to be understood at a glance.

Rather than functioning as a miniature replica, this object captures the formal essence of the Watergate Complex.

 

Craft, materials, and finish

 

Each Watergate Complex object is crafted with an emphasis on precision and restraint. The finish is intentionally understated, allowing light and shadow to articulate the building’s distinctive curves in the same way they do across the original concrete façades.

The result is an object that sits comfortably within:

• architectural and design studios

• modern interiors

• bookshelves and workspaces

It appeals to architects, designers, and those with an interest in modern American architecture.

 

An object shaped by urban ambition

 

The Watergate Complex represents an ambitious moment in postwar urban development — one that sought to integrate living, working, and public life within a single architectural vision.

As an object, the complex becomes a study in large-scale modernist form, offering a tactile way to engage with a building that is often experienced only at a distance.

 

Product details

 

• Subject: Watergate Complex, Washington, D.C., USA

• Architect: Luigi Moretti (with Milton Fischer)

• Architectural style: Late Modernism

• Original completion: 1971

• Designed and made by: Chisel & Mouse

 

Learn more about the Watergate Complex

 

For a detailed exploration of the Watergate Complex’s architecture, design approach, urban context, and cultural legacy, see our in-depth guide:

Watergate Complex Architecture: Modernist Landmark in Washington, D.C.