Cole Valley Residence
San Francisco, CA
A professional couple with three teenage children wanted a more harmonious lifestyle. They hired 450 architects to renovate their home with modern details and expand the house, while remaining sensitive to the character and scale of the neighborhood and their Edwardian home. Residing in San Francisco’s Cole Valley, they also sought to create a tranquil garden that would offer a respite from the busy urban surroundings. Through the use of natural materials, the careful relationship between interior and exterior spaces, and the visual and auditory delights of a waterfall and luxuriant garden, the clients’ home was transformed into a private sanctuary within the bustling city.
The renovation delineated the house into three distinct zones: living spaces at street level, teens’ bedrooms on the top floor, and a master suite at the rear garden level. The addition was conceived as a series of terraces stepping from the top floor down to the garden. Sensuous materials—including oil-rubbed wood finishes, small glass mosaic tiles, limestone counters, natural slate flooring, cedar siding and copper trim—add a modern touch and contribute to the house’s sense of warmth and serenity. The new kitchen and other living spaces overlook the patios and the garden, which was landscaped with native plants and a meditative stream that flows through a series of sculptural pools. The soothing sounds of this waterfall can be enjoyed from both inside the house and out. Expansive windows and full glass doors allow the interior spaces to connect with the natural beauty outside. The master suite, removed from the busy sounds of the street and the teens’ bedrooms above, faces the lushly landscaped garden. Relaxing in their deep soaking tub with the windows open, enjoying the intimate view of the garden and the sounds of the waterfall, the clients feel like they’re bathing in their own personal oasis.