Located in the Twin Peaks neighbourhood of San Francisco, this house originally designed in 1964 by architect Albert Lanier was remodeled by Feldman Architecture to suit its new residents' tastes.
Overlooking the Mount Sutro Open Reserve, the renovation was Inspired by the sloping hill and garden, valorized by opening up the original compartmentalized main floor, thus visually and physically connecting it to the spacious rear yard: in addition to clarifying the floor plan and refreshing the interiors, the house is now more directly connected to the outdoors.
In the words of the architects, “The structure of the house was kept largely intact to celebrate the exposed beams, high ceiling, and Japanese ski cabin-esque design.”
They nonetheless chose to relocate the house’s stair to the rear wall, linking all three levels in the building: the first floor has a foyer and two single-car garages, the second floor includes three ensuite bedrooms and a private garden, and the third floor features the living room, dining room, kitchen, and main patio. The kitchen was also moved to the rear of the house, where a new deck creates an easy connection to the yard.
A custom-made wood screen filters natural light and provides privacy.
While aiming to clarify the floor layout, the general strategy for intervention was to carve new spaces within the modifications and torsions of the existing one. A sheltered space — transformed into an outdoor spa — was created underneath the new bridge between the kitchen and the yard. The second-floor master bedroom’s private garden is chained to the third, uppermost floor via a set of stairs. The triangular peaks crowning the third floor were redesigned instead into a loft with skylights; the skylights open to a roof deck serving views of Golden Gate Bridge and encouraging natural ventilation.
- Project:
- Twin Peaks Residence (renovation)
- Place:
- San Francisco, California
- Completion:
- 2017
- Architect:
- Feldman Architecture
- Project team :
- Landscape: Bernard Trainor & Associates, Frank & Grossman; Lighting: Kim Cladas Lighting Design; Structure: Strandberg Engineering; Builder: Upscale Construction; Cabinetmaker: Eby Construction