Park Street

Bernal Heights, San Francisco, CA

The Eller Residence renovation, located in Bernal Heights, a neighborhood built largely after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, synthesizes the vernacular character and scale of the original cottage with the growing needs of a modern family. Like a Louise Nevelson bas-relief, the original Victorian façade is a single color, abstracting the detail and hinting at internal transformation. The rear façade expresses modernity, with large expanses of glass, a canvas sunscreen and articulated volumes that connect visually and physically to the garden.

Expanding the house from its original 1,040 sq. ft. to a still-modest 2,170 sq.ft., the design opens the home to the southern garden, maximizing passive solar heat and light, one of many green-conscious building methods. The middle level, free of most demising walls, is dedicated to living/eating/cooking. Two bedrooms at the garden level seamlessly invite the light and garden in while the original attic space functions as a playroom.

Visit  www.dwell.com/watch for a complete slide show and story.

Design Team:
Sarah Willmer
Kathleen Heimerman
Joseph Barajas

Photography by Ken Gutmaker Photography