Sketched out with utmost attention to detail by Zack | de Vito Architecture, SteelHouse 1 and 2 represent two contemporary dwellings that were built on the same lot within a popular neighborhood in San Francisco, California, USA. The homes were completed in 2014 and boast eco-friendly features such as thermal-rated windows, radiant floor heating and “solar ready” structural and mechanical systems. They come with price tags of $1,750,000 each, and as you are about to find out, they are worth every cent.
The first abode, SteelHouse1, is located at the front of the lot and impresses with a modern appearance that allows it to distinguish itself from neighboring residences. This house is brand new and flaunts Corten steel cladding, fiber cement siding as well as stucco elements. It has two floors and stands ready to ensure irreproachable living conditions in its three bedrooms and two full bathrooms. Its master bedroom incorporates a private roof deck that ensures breathtaking sunset views. On the ground level, we find a private office as well as a parking space for a single car.
SteelHouse 2 is sits at the rear of the lot and is the result of a successful renovation project focused on the cottage that was already present on the site. Completely transformed, this house also comes with two levels, with its top level comprising the entertainment areas. Private living areas comprise a pair of bathrooms as well as a pair of bedrooms complemented by a third bedroom located at the top floor. This upper floor bedroom benefits from access to a south-facing deck, which can also be accessed from the kitchen. Oak cabinetry, oiled-oak flooring and walnut stairs are just some of the most noteworthy highlights of SteelHouse 2. A single car can be parked at its front.
From the architect:
Innovative Design in the Heart of Noe Valley
Vacant parcels of land that offer a clean slate for development are rarely available in San Francisco, and almost unheard of in Noe Valley. Committed to finding opportunities to design and build in one of the most popular neighborhoods in the city, the development team of Zack de Vito Architecture + Construction have proven that vision and creativity can address this challenge.
Inspired by a standard city RH-2 parcel with a modest cottage positioned at the back of the lot on the popular Church Street corridor, this talented team immediately recognized the potential. While lot coverage of this sort cannot be created on vacant land, this existing dwelling was ripe for change. The large flat front yard offered a footprint for a new structure. And by working imaginatively within the envelope of the existing structure, these designers could create two stunning urban homes in the heart of the City.
After several years of planning, the team has just unveiled two of the most innovative modern dwelling designs in San Francisco. Two unique, free-standing condominiums share a single lot while maintaining their individual architectural identity. Maximizing the function of a 25 foot wide lot, both homes are accessed from a common courtyard, a deviation from the traditional street-front entry. The unapologetic modern design is planned for maximum spatial efficiency with unsurpassed attention to detail and craft, expressing handmade quality at every turn.
SteelHouse1 (1518 SF). Occupying the front of the lot, a new, ground-up townhouse, with an impressive modern façade, stands out from the more traditional buildings along this urban corridor. Clad with corten steel, fiber cement siding and stucco, this building encompasses two full floors of light-filled living space accommodating three bedrooms and two full baths.
The dramatic open floor plan is enhanced by clean lines and sophisticated modern finishes, including industrial structural steel complimented by warm oiled-oak floors and custom walnut cabinetry. The master bedroom boasts a private roof deck illuminated by its desirable western exposure. The ground floor includes one car parking and a private office space, nicely isolated from the main living levels.
SteelHouse2 (1515 SF). Occupying the back of the lot, the fully-renovated, two-story structure has been transformed to fit perfectly into this modern context. This building also encompasses two full floors of living space, with the entertaining spaces positioned at the top level. The open floor plan is enhanced by extraordinary light with modern steel and wood details that visually connect the two floors.
This building accommodates two bedrooms and two full baths on the lower floor, with a third bedroom with en-suite bath at the upper, main living level. A private south-west-facing deck is directly accessed from both the kitchen and the upper bedroom at this level. Finishes include walnut stairs, oiled-oak flooring, custom rift-cut white oak cabinetry, and composite quartz counter-tops. One car parking is provided for this unit in the front building.
Both buildings incorporate green design which includes radiant floor heating that is zoned for efficiency; state-of-the-art thermal-rated windows; material selections that are driven by sustainability; and mechanical and structural systems that are ‘solar ready’. The two modern buildings live like single family homes, while offering a unique opportunity for an extended family or single owner to enjoy the entire compound. Each building is offered for sale at $1,750,000.
Architects: Zack | de Vito Architecture
Location: San Francisco, CA, United States
Architects in Charge: Jim Zack, Lise de Vito
Project Year: 2014
Photographs: Bruce Damonte, Paul Dyer
Contractor: Bruce Wickstrom
Structural Engineer: Don David
