CASE STUDY
leading to the glass-paneled entry door beneath a window and a narrow balcony . The modern aesthetic employed by the design team was led by WDA residential practice leader Jim Westover , AIA , LEED AP , who sought to enhance the façade with a crisp palette of bright white , with hints of blue-gray and black .
" This design approach turns the façade from appealingly decorative to strikingly graphic ," says Westover .
The firm ’ s distinctive , yet subtle design choice also sets the tone for the design conversation between the front and rear of the residence . Notably , the rear façade opens up to showcase WDA ’ s modern and exuberant take on the Victorian-style façade — resulting in a design composition clad in custom Western Red Cedar that is punctuated by oversized glazed units topped with a peaked roof . Westover observes that while visually juxtaposed , the front and rear façades are architecturally referential .
Throughout the 3,758-square foot interior , the design features a riff on the inverted , or reverse level , floor plan , with programming spread across three levels . The ground floor includes a utilities room , kitchenette , full-bath , and exercise area that also provides access to the landscaped backyard . The main floor features the primary suite with walk-in closet , children ’ s bedrooms , and Jack-and- Jill bath . The vaulted-ceilinged upper floor contains a guest bedroom / den with ensuite bath , powder room , office , kitchen , dining area , and living room that opens onto a deck with city views .
" Victorians are beautiful and important markers of San Francisco ’ s architectural history , but heritage architecture isn ’ t always suited for contemporary living , particularly in cities where space is at a premium ," notes Westover . " We believe that with our thoughtful design interventions and interpretations of the past in this design , we are contributing to moving history into the present ."
www wdarch . com
Photo credit : Matthew Millman with Lucy Bamman ( stylist )
67