A whimsical white house exhibit beckons the imagination in Washington

A massive interactive installation that opened this week fills the US National Building Museum’s cavernous Great Hall with an all-white house, pool and pavilion designed by New York-based design firm Snarkitecture. The idiosyncratic group — which sees itself as creating neither art nor architecture, but rather something in between — invites Washingtonians to immerse themselves in a tactile show that captivates with a sprinkling of whimsy. “We are looking to make architecture accessible and engaging. Part of doing that is to integrate this concept of play,” said Alex Mustonen, who co-founded Snarkitecture with Daniel Arsham. Ben Porto joined the pair in 2014. “We like people to experience architecture and environments in ways that children might experience them,” he said. “Ideally to let your guard down to approach something in a new way.” Visitors enter the free-standing structure filled wi