Peter’s House in San Francisco boasts openness and privacy

San Francisco-based architectural practice, Craig Steely Architecture, has designed the Peter’s House project. Completed in 2013, this contemporary home with a glass tower is located in San Francisco, California, US.

Located above San Francisco’s Dolores Park on a steep site bordering a public garden, the decidedly small house, (only 1800 square feet) builds on this steep lot as efficiently as possible.

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According to the architects: “Rather than the typical construction practice of locating foundations staggered up the hillside, Peter’s house locates a 24 ft. x 24 ft. cast-in-place concrete garage at the lowest level and builds a three-storey glass tower above it, altering the land and native hillside drainage very little. The top living floor then spans from a flat plateau at top of the lot to the tower like a bridge, essentially reducing the amount of excavation typically involved in construction of this type by 2/3.

“Beyond the structural challenges, the biggest issue in designing this contemporary house was opening the building to the expansive view while maintaining a level of privacy from the sidewalk and garden that pass alongside. Around the time the house was being designed, the new on-ramp to the Golden Gate Bridge was under construction which necessitated clearing a grove of Monterey Cypress trees in it’s path from the Presidio. We secured some of these trees and working with a local milling shop turned them into 90 solid wood louvers (fixed on the exterior/operable on the interior) that regulate openness and privacy.”

The luxury home boasts interior design features such as floor-to-ceiling windows, reclaimed timber and contemporary design.

Images courtesy of Bruce Damonte

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