Architecture and Interiors | San Francisco Bay Area
Zero Energy House was published in FuturARC (an Asian Green Architecture magazine) early in 2013, in an article written by Jalel Sager. The article explores the California codes, the most stringent in the US (probably the world). Here Jalel finds several developments that go further than most; their owners speak of sharing their abode with the planet. The battle between the personal and the political is fought on the fringes of mainstream Green.
Here is a PDF of the article
This Noe Valley Remodel pushes the envelope of what most would call a remodel, but when you start with an old small house a little goes a long way.
The house is being slightly lifted to allow for a full height understory and a new story is being added to dramatically increase the space, view and use.
The City of San Francisco and most jurisdictions have rules for what is allowed. In the case of San Francisco the permit process is much easier for a renovation, the only issue is that you can only change so much before it’s considered a demolition. However there’s sometimes tax consequences, so check with a financial adviser.
This three-story addition to an historic property in Nob Hill in San Francisco is more a new building than a renovation. The original property was dark and narrow. By introducing a large light-well on the West side of the mass, we were able to bring natural light deep into the building, even the lower levels. A four-car garage sits at the base on the Clay Street side. On the level above there is a single level flat, its large living and dining areas open directly to a deck and south facing garden that increase the sense of space. The glass light-well forms a hallway that leads to two bedrooms. The owners unit has five bedrooms and four and half baths. The highlight is a two-story living room that looks to the south through a two story window wall that is inspired by Mondrian. This wall contrasts with the symmetry and history of the front façade, designed along the lines of early nineteenth century skyscrapers, visually ordered by neoclassical architectural concepts. This dichotomy of front to back, historical to expressive is typical of our work in San Francisco, where the street wall and historic facades are protected by the California Environmental Quality Act.
In the heart of Cole Valley, this property was the perfect location for a growing family. The house itself was small and poorly organized. We removed a small shed from the rear and had a blank palette for new architecture. The two story addition is set two risers down from the main level. This allows it to open directly to the garden and to enjoy a tall ceiling. The element that binds the project together is a central lightwell above the kitchen bar. The kitchen relates to the living room and yard across the open bar. The lightwell also allows an overlook into the main spaces from the children’s bedrooms above and includes an internal window into the master bath. The rear façade is a collage of glass and wood, activated by a pitched roof that vaults one of the upper bedrooms. In contrast the front is an historic renovation, no sign of the contemporary space or addition beyond.
Our Zero Energy House was awarded the Best Remodel by Fine Homebuilding Magazine.
A San Francisco row house was badly in need of a renovation. In addition, the owners wanted a more modern home for their growing family, and they wanted their house to meet its own energy needs plus those of an electric car. Although city preservation requirements limited the changes that could be made to the house’s Edwardian facade, architects Ross Levy and Karen Andersen found that they could give the facade a simple facelift while transforming the house behind it. Because row houses can feel cramped and dark, Levy and Andersen brought light inside and created the illusion of space with three strategies:
(1) defining spaces with details, not walls
(2) integrating glazing where it would have the most impact; and
(3) using a central stairway with a skylight at the top as a lightwell
They achieved net-zero energy use by insulating the roof with open-cell spray foam and the walls with an inch of closed-cell foam covered with fiberglass batts, making the house all-electric, and powering it with an 8kw photovoltaic array. A chart demonstrates the economics of this net-zero home and estimates the payback time for the energy-efficiency extras to be nine years. For its successful bonding of preservation with performance while also reflecting its owners’ lifestyle, this home is FHB’s remodel of the year for 2013.
From Fine Homebuilding #235 (Houses)
pp. 42-47 April 25, 2013
San Francisco Magazine included our Zero Energy House in the April issue. Several local buildings were highlighted for their sustainability.
Continue reading “Nothing Never Looked So Good – SF Magazine”
Working with the historic envelope, we created a three dimensional series of spaces to unify the experience of this vertical home in San Francisco. An open stairwell brings light down four stories from the skylit penthouse and provides a heat-stack for natural ventilation and circulation. This sculptural stair travels through the void, arriving first at a bedroom level and then at the main living spaces, continuing to the roof where a large deck enjoys downtown views. A bridge joins the kitchen and dining area to the backyard creating continuity between the interior and exterior living spaces. The terraced garden acts as an outdoor room connecting the master suite to the rear yard.
• AIA San Francisco Home Tours 2009.
Levy Art and Architecture is proud to announce that we will be included in AIASF’s Small Firms, Great Projects: 2012. Continue reading “Small Firm, Great Projects”
As a Queen Anne Victorian, we were able to preserve and restore the decorative façade of this residence, while completely reconfiguring the interior to honor our client’s contemporary lifestyle.
The hinged “bay window” garage door is a primary component in this innovative renovation. Given the parameters of preserving the historic character, we chose motorized swinging doors which were specially constructed to match the original bay window.
In contrast to the exterior appearance which we maintained as close to the original as possible, the inside represents a complete re-design. We combined the upper two units into one residence, creating an opportunity to open the space, and allowing light to fill the house from front to back. An expansive North-facing window and door system frames the view of downtown and connects the living spaces to a large deck. The skylit stair winds through the house — beginning as a grounded feature of the entry, and then becoming more transparent as the wood and steel structure are exposed and illuminated.
Publications:
• Fine Homebuilding, July 2011 “A Garage Fit for a Queen” by Maureen Friedman
Do you dig this custom garage door? Need an innovative solution for an upcoming residential or commercial project? We’d be happy to guide you through this design process and work with you to create a functional, and unique building that fits your vision and needs.
Schedule your complimentary 20min consultation so we can learn about your project, no matter what phase of the planning process you’re in.
Ross Levy, licensed architect and principal at Levy Art + Architecture, has been creating innovative architectural designs that support modern lifestyles for nearly 30 years. With his background as a building contractor, he brings a craftsman’s perspective and attention to detail to every unique project. Ross completed graduate work at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, is a founding member of The Viet Nam Green Building Council, and has served for many years on the AIA Public Policy committee.
Levy Art + Architecture’s work has been recognized by the American Institute of Architects and featured in publications such as Architectural Digest, SPACES, Dwell, Dezeen, and Fine Homebuilding.