Looking at the main façade and the sides and part of the garden, we can confirm that this is a house from the 1920s, built in San Francisco, in the Italian Renaissance style. However, entering the heart of this property, we encounter a contemporary two-storey extension that floods the spaces with light.
Here at SF Historic, classicism and modernity go hand in hand, both indoors and outdoors. To maintain the original architectural design and comply with anti-earthquake measures imposed by city by-laws, Walker Warner architects were required to reinforce the house's foundation and replicate decorative wooden cornices and columns with bespoke fiberglass reproductions.
However, this young family required a home adapted to modern-day life. So the architect's office drew inspiration from the older townhouses of central London, where modern interventions can easily be spotted in contrast with the historic architecture. The outcome is the large geometrical volume of glass clad in steel, which creates a modern, airy, rear façade. Opposite the beautifully renovated original arches, this new space lends luminosity to the kitchen area. Additionally, by opening the shutters outwards, a unique environment is created for the owners allowing them to feel as close as possible to the native plants and the garden's focal point – the large copper beech tree. Its imposing canopy serves as a shelter for diverse moments of gathering and family occasions in the open air.