This two story cottage-style home located in Washington, D.C. is surrounded by a manicured garden filled with an incredible variety of birdlife. The owner sought a private retreat within her home where she could elevate both spirit and mind through a space of openness and clarity. This story is an exploration of solid and void, light and shadows, transparency and texture through the art of architecture. It is an expression of emotions, desires and functions.

A set of triangular screen panels enclose the habitable space and mark the threshold of the sunroom. This layering provides a sense of privacy and protection to the interior while allowing natural light to penetrate to the core of the room. A skylight running nearly the full length of the roof focuses sunlight into the adjacent dining room.

A simple palette of warm materials, together with minimal detailing, reinterprets the home’s cottage-style elegance to now accommodate a modern sunroom that retains the warmth and grace of the main structure.

Located in Tenley Town, Washington D.C.