Capturing sweeping views of San Francisco from a “courtyard in the sky”, this project transformed a small two-story house built in 1913 in Potrero Hill through a complete remodel-addition.
The house sits on a shallow parcel of land with a small backyard. The Primary Suite was located on the ground level, with a large deck extending into the rear yard. The second level became the living floor, with an open plan including the Living Room, Kitchen and Dining Room. The third level is an extension of the living space with a courtyard carved out with cantilevered beams that frame the sky. Large glass windows and sliding doors open onto the courtyard and merges the space with the interior room.
A cascading stair with terrazzo treads and risers leads from the front door directly to the third floor and the view.
To maintain the neighbors access to light and air, the new rear façade to angles and facets back to the adjacent lightwells. Similarly, the carved-out Courtyard lightens the mass of the third-floor addition, providing a path for sunlight to reach the rear yard neighbors. By stepping each floor plate, the mass of the rear façade is further reduced and the tight spacing of the dark painted wood battens adds texture and shadow as the sun rises and sets each day.
Structural Engineer: Hom-Pisano
Photography: Vittoria Zupicich