Twin Peaks Residence

Originally designed in 1964 by architect Albert Lanier, the husband of renowned sculptor Ruth Asawa, the house was remodeled to suit its new resident’s more contemporary tastes. In addition to clarifying the floor plan and refreshing the interiors, the house is now more directly connected to the outdoors.

The client—a San Francisco-based business woman—initially approached the architects with a small list of updates. A first round of interventions included new white oak floors and staining the ceilings a neutral gray. Subsequent phases addressed more fundamental aspects of the house, including reimagining the house’s layout, and creating more open interiors that better connected to the adjacent, steeply sloped backyard. The architects found a solution that could solve both problems: they relocated the house’s stair to the rear wall and in the process opening up the floor plan. The stair links all three levels in the house: the first floor has a foyer and two single-car garages, the second floor includes three ensuite bedrooms and a private garden, and the third floor features the living room, dining room, kitchen, and main patio. The kitchen was also moved to the rear of the house, where a new deck creates an easy connection to the yard. A reclaimed white oak piece by wood artisan Evan Shively was incorporated into the kitchen countertop. A custom-made wood screen filters natural light and provides privacy.

The new bridge between the kitchen and the yard created a sheltered space beneath it, which was transformed into an outdoor spa adjacent to the master bathroom, complete with a cold plunge and outdoor shower. In the foyer, a stone bench and mini-garden greet guests. A glass passageway, connecting the second-floor master bath and master bedroom, serves double duty as a mini-office that features full views of the rear yard. The second-floor master bedroom’s private garden leads up to the third, uppermost floor via a set of stairs. The bathrooms feature a high gloss lacquer finish on plaster walls to create an elegant yet durable surface.

The original living space of the home featured extensive rustic wood trim, which had yellowed over time. The wood was stained to achieve a more neutral and serene palette. The triangular peaks crowning the third floor were redesigned into a loft with skylights. The skylights open to a roof deck that boasts views of the Golden Gate Bridge and encourages natural ventilation on hot days.

Rather than regrading and flattening the sloping yard, the renovation uses the existing topography of the site to its advantage, creating a tiered series of outdoor spaces connected via new stair. Lush greenery and a kitchen garden was added as well as a fire pit and ample seating.