The focus of the project was to create a family home with open living spaces out of this dilapidated Victorian duplex. Dynamic vertical and horizontal flow is created by a central stairway/atrium, which opens the core of the building to natural light. Interior glass walls bordering the three-story stairwell provide plays of shadow with the atrium, forming private passageways between rooms on each level. Storefront glass windows frame generous downtown views, while a partial floor addition creates a luxurious master suite opening onto front and rear decks. The limited palate of materials brings warmth, simplicity, and continuity to the home, which is continued below in a studio apartment opening onto a private garden.

St. Germain was purchased in the summer of 2008 with the objective of bringing the neglected property a new life.  The single-family dwelling, including most all of the finishes, was little changed from its original construction in 1960. Built atop tall wooden piers on a down-sloping site, the foundation system had failed over time, creating structural issues within the dark and modest house. The new owners' intent was to create a revitalized residence that took optimal advantage of spectacular (bridge to bridge) views, brought ample natural light into all living spaces, utilized an open and rationally oriented layout, all while building with natural and sustainable materials to the extent possible.  Upon completion the property would be offered to a buyer who could appreciate the careful thought and attention to detail that was invested during the three year re-construction process.

Opening this dark, claustrophobic 1970’s spec house to the spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean was the premise behind this comprehensive house remodel. A dramatic, sky-lit gallery welcomes the visitor, leading to a step-down great room with unparalleled views of the Farallon Islands beyond. Above, a grated steel and aluminum bridge tempers the sunlight, connecting the master bedroom suite to the children’s bedroom wing.  An adjacent outdoor courtyard provides a tranquil respite for the study, while doubling as a protected play area from the inclement weather. A new three-story, cantilevered glass bay was added at the rear, accentuating the view.  Mitered glass edges dematerialize the boundary between indoors and out, imparting a spectacular aerial perspective. The new simplified plan includes a family room with open study, and a ground-level recreation room, offering this active family plenty of room to grow and live in.

The project consists of an extensive remodel of an Edwardian home located along the Presidio in San Francisco’s Richmond district. The owners were relocating from the sunny Mission district to a part of town known for fog and generally overcast days. The design sought to emphasize the passage of the day and introduce sunshine when available. Adopting a below - the - radar approach of the “interventionist”, we attacked only those parts of the exterior that could be radically altered without significant oversight by the planning department. Large glazed areas were cut into the structure at the top and rear of the building envelope in order to bring in daylight and elongate interior vistas. 

Parkview Terraces is a mixed-use senior housing facility containing 101 apartments, related services and common areas on the ground level. Parking for 22 cars is located below ground. The “L” shaped 9 stories concrete structure has an open courtyard on the alley and two rooftop terraces. The massing responds to the surrounding context by staying to three stories along Gough Street and rising to nine stories along Turk Street. Placing the tallest element along the north side of the site also minimizes shadows on the outdoor terraces. The glassy articulated façades on Turk and Elm street reinterprets, in a modern vocabulary, the traditional bay window rhythm of the San Francisco street. The combination of two stories and one story banding mitigates the scale of the building on this very prominent site. The wave-like façades provide views to the parks across the street and maximizes the sun and light in the units. The Gough Street elevation has more solid expression with smaller openings to account for the noise and glare made by automobile traffic.