Two-Way House
Studio Sarah Willmer, Architecture has woven together historic integrity with the needs of modern living in the realization of this San Francisco home.
The Two-Way House embodies a multitude of conversations between ourselves and our clients to realize the marriage of San Francisco’s historic urban fabric with today’s modern needs/desires in a thoughtfully crafted home filled with daylight seamlessly connecting to the garden.
Our client’s goals of filling their home with natural light while connecting inside to outside formed the transformation of this Pacific Heights row house, a quintessential San Francisco challenge. The Two-Way house was conceived around the pairing of the original 1900 Victorian façade and traditional parlor with an open plan and modern 2-story backyard addition. The design maximizes space, creating a generous single family home (with smaller 2nd unit), while deftly resolving constraints that have shaped the remodel of many San Francisco homes.
A series of interlocking decks and courtyards create a seamless flow from inside to out. Designed to capture daylight and link common and private spaces, double height volumes establish vertical connections shaped by skylights and windows revealing unexpected views through the residence.
Stained white oak and cedar create a soft pallet throughout, connecting floor to cabinets, cabinets to stairs, interior walls to exterior walls and the historic front to the modern back. Period molding at the parlor blends with minimal details and cabinetry. The Two-Way House bridges recognizable San Francisco architecture to the way todays design savvy San Franciscans live in their homes.
Design: Studio Sarah Willmer, Architecture
Design Team: Britta Tuschhoff, Megan Carter, Olya Piskun and Manon Bertoia
Photography: Jasper Sanidad
