Glen Park

We approached the renovation of this modest, post-war, developer-built residence in San Francisco by focusing on enhancing its inherent strengths: ample natural light and remarkable views.

Like fitting a lens to a camera body, a tall bay window was plugged into a newly opened corner. A reorganized floor plan ensures the main living spaces fully capitalize on the southeastern light and views.

The materials and details of the reimagined house draw inspiration from the original structure's essential simplicity. On the exterior, white stucco walls are accented by dark grey metal-clad bay windows, complemented by weathering steel planters and stone pavers that soften the building's facade. Wood slats and terracotta tiles create an inviting entry.

Inside, exposed wood framing is painted white with simple, surface-mounted light fixtures. Clear-finished white oak is used for both the floors and kitchen cabinets. At the heart of the plan, a sculptural white-oak-clad stair winds through a double-height, skylit space above the dining table.

The new upper floor is dedicated to a primary bedroom suite, offering elevated views of the city and the bay.

On the lowest level, we added a new Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) with its own street entry. This unit shares access to a steel and wood structure at the rear, which includes two small decks and a covered exterior stair. The south-facing decks are topped with a louvered wood sun shade.

This project exemplifies how high-performance building science can be applied to a mid-century building renovation, with new rooftop solar panels producing more energy than the building consumes.