Emerging from its humble beginnings, Open Box House was transformed by Feldman Architecture from a run-of-the-mill 1950s vinyl-clad box into a contemporary family home that takes full advantage of its site in San Francisco, California. The original house was detached on three sides and perched on a lot with panoramic views, but its small windows and dark rooms ignored the hillside location and potential for views. The unfinished lower floor made no effort to connect to the large undeveloped yard.

Interior walls were removed to create a large open plan that centers on a sleek new kitchen and floor-to-ceiling windows were installed to offer stunning downtown views. To the previously unfinished lower floor a new entry was added, along with a guest suite and a large family room where glass walls roll away to connect the inside to a newly landscaped deck and yard. The clean modern house is warmed by the generous use of dark stained woods and rich tiles and by its strong connection to lush landscape. Steel and aluminum accents and details contribute to its clean design.

Before the renovation:

Photos: Paul Dyer