In the Presidio Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, California, this warm and inviting, light-filled home was designed by John Maniscalco Architecture. The residence was originally constructed in 1949 for a prominent San Francisco family by architects Campbell and Wong. The design of the home was very forward-thinking for its time, with an open floor plan and a seamless indoor-outdoor connection to a central courtyard. However, there were some issues that needed to be addressed in the renovation process, such as increasing natural light and capturing views into the 1500 acres of open wooded parklands behind the home. The original design had a poor configuration of living spaces on the ground level and a north facing orientation which deprived the home of its full potential.

The main goal was to design a modern home for a family of four, showcasing warm and welcoming interiors with an organic feeling, inspired by the site. Additional openness was created in the interiors, while the natural beauty outside was maximized through expansive windows incorporated into the design. There is a new feeling of a country house within an urban environment. The major design change was re-arranging the footprint to bring the main living spaces onto the upper level, allowing for more opportunities to bring in natural light and maximize views.

The renovation of this home was well received, as it was featured in the AIA tour of homes in 2015.

Re-orientating the house to the south was conducted by adding an extension, taking advantage of the width of the property and creating a more spacious layout. The kitchen is positioned in the center of the home, where an expansive skylight was incorporated into the full width and length of the space (12′ x 24′), illuminating it with natural light. The result is an open floor plan that flows harmoniously from one space to the next, bright and airy with a touch of nature. The new design of the property takes on a wide horizontality that is uncharacteristic of San Francisco’s tall, narrow residential spaces.

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What We Love: Bright and airy interiors welcomes nature inside, creating a very inviting atmosphere, perfect for a family home. The central staircase design was beautifully crafted, drawing light from the upper level down to the lower levels. Expansive windows helps to bathe the interiors with natural light while allowing the homes inhabitants to experience the beauty that surrounds them. What are your thoughts, do find this home renovation to be warm and inviting?

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Besides the expansive glass windows drawing nature into the main living spaces, the architects incorporated floor-to-ceiling aspen trees on one side of the open staircase.

Photos: Courtesy of John Maniscalco Architecture