

Writing in Washington Life, Karin Tanabe describes the remarkable writing office designed by Travis Price architects for Wade Davis, National Geographic's "Explorer in Residence." It's one of the most beautiful rooms I've ever seen, the apotheosis of writing-caves.

"Travis did a studio on M Street in Georgetown for me," Davis says, noting that in his current home, zoning prohibited a detached building. While many need light-filled rooms for inspiration, he wanted to avoid large windows opening onto a residential neighborhood and sought a cave-like atmosphere to disappear into his work. Subtle light was brought in by other means when the architect built a dome above his client's desk (which Price describes as similar to the rotunda of the oracle's temple at Delphi) and filled it with the books he uses the most. Davis whimsically calls the space his "Navajo kiva of knowledge."