CUSTOM RESIDENTIAL
1161 Hayes Street Apartments
San Francisco, CA

The remodel of this ground floor apartment delivered on our clients’ needs to create a larger dwelling by creating a new lower level at grade with direct access to the rear garden. Since this is an owner-occupied unit, it made sense to add the new floor area in the unused portion of the basement directly below the unit. The final design doubled the original unit creating a 1,450 square foot, 3-bedroom apartment. Getting planning approval was a major hurdle, with the Code allowing for an addition in the rear yard without a variance if limited to a 12-feet extension. One controversial issue was with the Fire Department on whether the rear yard needed direct access to Hayes Street. The project’s success is in the play of natural sunlight that penetrates both levels of the apartment throughout the day. There is a feeling of serenity facing the rear garden despite being located in a dense urban neighborhood. This demonstrates that thoughtful design can create a comfortable home in the city for families with children.

Featured in:
The New Fillmore, San Francisco, January 2009,
“A Family Home in the City” (PDF, 0.3mb)