Let there be light
The Crumpacker Residence, a remodel of a 1970’s spec-built home, sits in a eucalyptus forest on the slope of mount Sutro in San Francisco. The completed renovation, which included all interior spaces, added just 150 square feet to the already spacious living area, for a total of 3,844 square feet. But the small addition created big change. Regan Bice Architects of Berkeley opened up the edges of the house and created a fluid procession from room to room.
Owned by a political fundraiser and website designer, the new environment needed to provide office space and comfortably accommodate social functions. The owner wanted a large, open floor plan, and since the original house was a labyrinth of small rooms, the renovation required a complete transformation of space.
Because the home is located in shaded forest, an important design element was to create interior spaces that are more luminescent than the exterior surroundings. In order to achieve this, Regan Bice created expansive glass openings facing west into the forest.
A wedge-shaped roof was installed over the kitchen, which gives entry to a dining area, and a large clerestory window was placed under the ceiling plane. As a result, the living room is flooded with light.
A master bath that opens to the outdoors also maximizes the surroundings. A soaking tub was designed into a bay window looking out over the trees and the San Francisco skyline.
The emphasis in the minimalist interior is on the details. The house takes advantage of the lush site, and uses windows to frame the views. To reduce distraction, there is no trim, and large wall planes define the interior spaces without doorways. The floors and casework are a rich beech, and much of the detailing is stainless steel.
Construction duration: 11 months. Distinctive characteristics: a light-filled interior despite a home’s setting in a dense eucalyptus grove.
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