Craig Steely Architecture

Peter’s House

Peter’s House
Bruce Damonte
Peter’s House
Bruce Damonte

PETER’S HOUSE

Craig Steely Architecture

PHOTOGRAPHS
Bruce Damonte

AREA
1900 Ft²

YEAR
2013

LOCATION
San Francisco, United States

 CATEGORY
Houses

Text description provided by architect.

Located above San Francisco’s Dolores Park on a steep site bordering a public garden, the decidedly small house,

Peter’s House
Bruce Damonte
Peter’s House
Bruce Damonte
Peter’s House
Bruce Damonte

Only 1800 square feet builds on this steep lot as efficiently as possible.

Rather than the typical construction practice of locating foundations staggered up the hillside.

Peter’s house locates a 24 ft. x 24 ft. cast-in-place concrete garage at the lowest level and builds a 3-story glass tower above it, altering the land and native hillside drainage very little.

Peter’s House
Bruce Damonte
Peter’s House
Bruce Damonte

The top living floor then spans from a flat plateau at top of the lot to the tower like a bridge.

Essentially reducing the amount of excavation typically involved in construction of this type by 2/3.

Peter’s House
Bruce Damonte
Peter’s House
Bruce Damonte

Beyond the structural challenges, the biggest issue in designing Peter’s house was opening the building.

To the expansive view while maintaining a level of privacy from the sidewalk and garden that pass alongside.

Peter’s House
Bruce Damonte
Peter’s House
Bruce Damonte

Around the time the house was being designed, the new on-ramp to the Golden Gate Bridge was under construction.

Which necessitated clearing a grove of Monterey Cypress trees in it’s path from the Presidio.

Peter’s House
Bruce Damonte
Peter’s House
Bruce Damonte

We secured some of these trees and working with a local milling shop turned them into 90 solid wood louvers. Fixed on the exterior/operable on the interior that regulate openness and privacy.


Peter’s House
Bruce Damonte
Peter’s House
Bruce Damonte
Peter’s House
Bruce Damonte
Peter’s House
Bruce Damonte
Peter’s House
Bruce Damonte


Peter’s House
Floor Plans: Garage, First, Second
Peter’s House
Floor Plans: Third, Roof


Peter’s House
Detail 1
Peter’s House
Detail 2

Craig Steely Architecture
T +1 415 8647013
Craig Steely Architecture
8 Beaver St, San Francisco, CA 94114, United States