The Haight-Ashbury Residence is a truly unique experience. It was originally a turn of the 20th Century San Francisco mansion on a hillside double-lot. The work here represents an entirely new concept inserted into an Edwardian shell. The owners had plenty of imagination and were in the adept hands of Nicole Hollis, interior designer, to develop their fanciful new home. I served as project architect for Richard Beard Architects for the development of this unique design through the mid-phase of construction.

Home remodels offer opportunities for homeowners to realize their own priorities for making a home. For this project, the unique, bespoke aesthetic and “program” (the types and arrangement of spaces) were the driving force. The very tailored design was supported by highly complex building systems. An entirely new structural skeleton was inserted (designed by Strandberg Engineering), including some subterranean spaces. The hillside location required special attention to civil, structural and landscape design. The approval process was also not without challenge, as San Francisco retains one of the most stringent jurisdictions for alterations to historic homes. Managing this design process required an ability to understand the main objectives, keep the entire team collaborating and communicating, and deliver a design that could be executed.

The house includes some truly wonderful features (a visit to Nicole’s or Richard’s website would certainly be in order for understanding their intentions. Architectural Digest also does a very nice job). My work here consisted much less of being a design influence, and much more of managing a complex process and ensuring that it would be buildable. Redhorse Constructors skillfully executed the design, as is evident by Douglas Friedman’s masterful photos.