Intimate and with a breathtaking view, this San Francisco residence makes the most of the geological features of its unique location – Global Design News

San Francisco, California, USA

Located on a hilltop parcel in the heart of San Francisco, Cole Valley Residence by Jensen Architects is designed as a composition of shifting volumes holding a series of spaces.

This way the house offers a combination of sweeping view and peaceful solitaire and becomes deeply personal, creating spaces that serve the owner’s need for privacy.

Cole Valley Residence has been awarded a 2023 Future House Award by Global Design News and The Chicago Athenaeum Museum for Architecture and Design with distinction for the Best Renovation of 2023.

The heavy board-formed concrete base of the site is carved into the hill, closely following the footprint of the original house on the lot while embracing and defying its complicated nature.

As a counterpoint, the upper volumes, detailed in plaster and glass, float above and reach outward, daringly, toward the bay.

Hidden beneath a landscape of native plantings are robust earth shoring, concrete and steel foundations, and drainage systems.

A bridge connecting the living level and garden terrace fulfills a code-required second exit and acts as an unexpected feature reminiscent of the client’s childhood dreams.

The full intent of these structural feats is revealed within the main living floor.

Taking advantage of the home’s unusually wide parcel, this open floor with wrapping windows cantilevers outward, immersing the space in sweeping views.

The home’s shifting levels play off this horizontal expression, creating spacious decks and heightening the sense of privacy within the bedrooms.

This strategy also provides shading which tempers direct sun without imposing on views. High-performance glazing and insulation and a solar energy system contribute to the home’s LEED Silver rating.

Project: Cole Valley Residence
Architects: Jensen Architects
Lead Architect: Mark Jensen, FAIA
Design Team: Emily Gosack, Margarita Urquiza, and Kim Cinco
Client: Geoffrey Weber and Priscilla Hung
Photographers: Joe Fletcher