new construction Archives - Levy Art + Architecture

Miter House on Kansas Street

As you approach this home, the façade that appears to be solid is revealed as a series of layers. A combed stone outer cladding gives way to a smooth plaster layer that, in turn, sits atop a shear layer of windows and taught corner glass. This is a representation of our clients: private people who become familiar over time.

Update: Miter House has been nominated for ArchDaily’s Building of the Year Contest! VOTE now through February 15, 2023 to help get this project to the final round.

The space of the home is similar. A slow reveal is based on an up-and-over movement across the site, and there’s an idea of two structures, front and back. Entering on the ground level, you ascend two broad steps to a central platform.

This “space between” houses the central stair.

The stair accesses a reverse plan: entry and gymnasium below, bedrooms between, living spaces atop. It’s capped by a roof deck. Materials define interior spaces. Maple slats and brass clad walls work together to define the central space, filter and reflect light, an experiential relationship that, like the façade, reveals itself through time. Each side of the structure has its own character and its own view, the front facing east defined by morning light and downtown views through mitered corner windows. The back faces west, the sunset and Twin Peaks viewed through operable glass walls that expand the floor area for indoor-outdoor functions. Two houses joined by a central spine and revealing themselves through time.

We successfully navigated this project through San Francisco city planning and a rigorous design review process.

“Ross and his team did a fabulous job on both the architecture and design touches for our new home in SF. Ross listened deeply to our goals for the project, but offered his expert eye and judgment to create something far better than if he’d simply done exactly as asked. We’re thrilled with the results and frequently see passers by stopping to admire his work. Unusual for a talented architect, Ross has a deep understanding of and respect for the craft of building—that knowledge was invaluable for many key decisions we faced. When a materials price spike made a highly visible staircase cost-prohibitive, Ross came up with a creative solution we love! Equally important, he orchestrated that oh so vital “dance” among planning department, neighbors, and contractor. We loved LAA’s vision and aesthetic, but none of it means a thing if you can’t get it built. Ross’s ability to bring all the parties along was critical to the success of the project. We choose LAA for their architectural and design talent, but we did not realize just how critical all these other skills are to getting what you really want—a home you love.”

Architect: Ross Levy⁠ (Levy Art + Architecture)⁠
Project Team: Michael Ageno, Patrick Donato⁠, Shirin Monshipouri (Levy Art + Architecture)⁠
Interior Architect / Designer: Frances Weiss⁠ (Levy Art + Architecture)⁠
Contractor: Colm Brennan at Stronghold Construction
Structural Engineer: Daedalus Engineering
Photographer: Joe Fletcher

Sq ft: 3,707
Completed: 2020
All-new construction
Architecture + interior architecture by Levy Art + Architecture

Russian Hill Residences

Exterior corner view of the Russian Hill Residence contemporary single-family home in San Francisco

In San Francisco, it is unusual to build from the ground up. Even more rare, in the established and historic area of Russian Hill. This project works in scale with the urban landscape and topography of the west slope. Its mass and formal modulation conform with the texture, while at the same time creating a distinct identity.

The historical context is embraced by creating vistas and juxtapositions inside and out that underscore the relationship between old and new, adorned but reduced. These moments define a new role for the modern in the space of the original and both benefit.

In order to enjoy the views of the Golden Gate Bridge and bay, our client requested we incorporate as much uninterrupted West- and North-facing glass as possible. With this as a starting point, we begin to shape the programmatic needs around this framed view. The structural language was developed around carving away at the mass and the northwest corner of the building became a dematerialized mitered glass expression.

Ross and his team did a terrific job in marrying the modern sustainable design aesthetic we had with the practical aspects of urban family living. He was involved from start to finish in an entire house rebuild and created a spectacular gem of a home for us! Highly recommended!

While the West face required maximum transparency, the South and East sides needed to provide privacy and thermal control. We created a bipartite composition of forms and a masonry base that anchors the volume to the site.

The upper level is a continuous band of clerestory glass, further lightening its presence. The lower floors are is clad in white reinforced concrete panels. This volume was modeled as a continuous surface, small apertures were treated as penetrations within the regular, horizontal grid. Each opening is lined with protruding stainless steel jambs that accentuate the punctuation of the skin. Larger openings were delineated as interruptions in the horizontal panel grid. The edges here being concealed as the skin wraps back toward the structure. In total, we imposed a single system that could be adapted to each orientations reach condition.

Concerned with passive performance, we offset the ample Western exposure with heavily insulated wall and roof cavities. The vertical volume was designed to draw the occupants up the stair from terrace level and to serve as a heat chimney, providing naturally driven ventilation up to the penthouse. This shaft serves the dual purpose of organizing space and flows, and conditioning the space and is the primary gesture that brings visitors up the front stair. Conceived as a semi- outdoor experience, it transitions a weather protected passage from grade level to the elevated foyer.

The view is introduced in a look through an informal den, which is closable by a series of folding panels: a public space with private potential. By aligning these two spaces and borrowing the vista, each space was enhanced, the overall horizontal projection at the second floor entry has an equivalent relationship with the vertical volume of the stairwell.

The vertical flow of space continues to the main living space on the third level and ultimately to the pavilion and roof terrace, creating an elevated ground that is essentially replaced atop the structure. The living space takes advantage of the framed vistas using floor to ceiling glass, presenting an internal horizon to offer a variety of views — both framed and unframed.

The ceiling plane is modulated with large coffer, which provides definition for the distinct functions of the space and allows for seamless integration of cove and direct lighting. Linear skylights above the fireplace and across the mid line of the level, combine with the stairwell to even the natural lighting in the space that is dominated by West-facing glass.

The open plan is organized where the spaces are only defined by turning a corner, offering hidden places that offer a different experience of place. A breakfast nook enjoys the south sun and looks towards the downtown skyline, a media room is closed by a sliding wall, and a half bath is located discreetly at the rear of the space made more private by a vestibule — a place to pause before re-entering the social space.

All of this is capped by a roof terrace that covers almost the entire footprint of the structure. Here, the view is unobstructed and breathtaking. It is also a place for growing herbs and riding bikes; it’s the urban oasis envisioned and championed by Gropius and Corbusier.

Architect: Levy Art + Architecture
General Contractor: Saturn Construction
Structural Engineer: SEMCO
Land Use Consultant: Jeremy Paul
Photographer: Matthew Millman

Publications:

San Francisco Magazine, January 2014, “Corner View, at a Cost” by Lauren Murrow

Cortland Mixed Use

An Urban Infill Project

How do you add a mixed-use building to a small scale, eclectic, neighborhood district? With care and ingenuity, we have created a structure that is, at once, utilitarian and playful. This fun & funky design is the art of urban infill on a small, commercial corridor.

A simple, repetitive steel frame opens the ground-level retail floor plan for maximum potential. Above, two townhouse-style units are split along a diagonal demising wall. This creates a hierarchy of space with a minimum of means; the scale of the rooms simply changes as the diagonal moves towards and away from the orthogonal, property line perimeter. This one geometry gives life and surprise to the units, while maintaining a simple, short span construction technique.

Contemporary Wine Country Architecture: Healdsburg Vineyard

As a beautiful example of wine country architecture, this project is set on a 200 acre vineyard in Healdsburg, Sonoma County, California. This house is designed as an intervention to an old family home destroyed by fire. The only salvageable elements were the old gable roof and river rock hearth. Complementing the existing gable, a series of sloped and flat roof planes provide for clerestory windows that bring abundant natural light to the space. A flat, wooden ceiling over the living area continues to the exterior seamlessly connecting the surrounding porch. This long eave emphasizes the view across the vineyard to the coastal range and provides an ideal location for an integrated solar array. Bands of salvaged cedar at the base of the house support climbing wisteria and bind the house to the landscape as it rises from the rows of vines.

Ken Gutmaker, Photography