The extraordinary views “in the heart of the city and a small buildable footprint limited by restrictive easements prompted” the creation of this thin, three story home. The main living spaces and master suite are on the top floor, which is essentially a one bedroom loft with 270° views. “A 16’ ipe screen envelopes the body of the house, and rests delicately atop a base of long courses of black Leuders limestone”.
Visitors to the residence enter through a pivoting glass door, “where the natural stone gives way to its dressed counterpart, and is immediately greeted by a stair of massive ebonized oak treads floating above twin steel channels, and hanging in a three story vertical space. Beyond, an etched glass wall captures the projected shadows of a stand of giant bamboo, and a band of clear glass directs one’s gaze out to a private garden.”
“Punctuating the ipe facade are two steel box windows, their mirror like reflection or deep shadow are posed against the filligree of the screen. In the evening this screen transforms into a lantern revealing a collection of spaces behind. The screen also holds possibility of transforming the building when two 10’ sections dramatically unfold and reveal the formal dining room”.
The upstairs of the residence is designed to embrace the expansive view “with an unmitigated ceiling plane that provides a surface for reflected light, while the screens 18” extension above the floor level gently corrals the visitor. Adjacent power lines to the west are eschewed, although a constellation of portholes arrayed across this wall embrace the dramatic western light and enliven the facade from the high street beyond. Here, an open plan is accentuated by laminated low-e corner glazing, twin Akari lanterns and sliding panels. Exquisitely matched Lacewood veneer cabinetry and a marble bathing area punctuate the ensemble and add a sense of finesse and delicacy throughout.
Special thanks to Contemporist for the above images.
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