A Washington DC apartment by Colleen Healey Architecture, with a single-pitched roof, a skylight, and clerestory windows preserving a neighbor's sightlines.

Atrium Apartment is a Washington, DC apartment renovation by Colleen Healey Architecture, organized around a specific constraint: preserving sightlines from an atrium in the adjacent unit. The solution introduces a single-pitched roof with a central skylight and clerestory windows on 3 sides. The skylight brings eastern light into the apartment in the morning; the clerestory windows distribute daylight from different angles throughout the day. Both moves address the constraint without compromising the apartment's own light quality, and the roof change also improves the unit's insulation and energy performance.

The removal of a sliding partition opened the kitchen and living area into a continuous space. The former atrium was converted into the main living area, which now functions as a combined office and library, with daylight coming from the surrounding windows on multiple sides. The brief asked for integrated book storage alongside dedicated work and reading zones, and the open plan accommodates all 3 without separating them.

Custom white oak cabinetry with leather pulls runs throughout the apartment, grounding the palette in warm natural material. Chrome mid-century furnishings are used alongside: Eames desk and dining chairs, and USM Modular shelving units. The combination references the building's original era without reproducing it literally. Mirrors at the entry and primary bath extend the perceived depth of the rooms. The renovation also included enhanced soundproofing, an improved HVAC system, energy-efficient appliances, and advanced lighting controls. Aging-in-place features are integrated throughout, reflecting the client's interest in single-floor living that maintains design quality over the long term.