Claremont Canyon Residence
This 1937 two-story Berkeley bungalow, originally designed by Dinwiddie and Hill Architects, was modernized for a genetics professor, while maintaining traditional and contemporary crafted elements of a family home. The new street façade creates a dynamic and unique front in keeping with the complexity of the existing south patio by incorporating new lift and slide windows at the living room and a new deck off the Master’s Bedroom with sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay. The new stairs and guardrail connect the house to the street and patio levels forming a circulation ribbon that intertwines it with the landscape. Each space was carefully considered to maximize its connection to the surrounding landscape and views while maintaining privacy from the street. The design creates a modern addition that integrates seamlessly with the existing shell and marries the family’s traditional pieces with modern craft.
The project’s concept was “timeless modern.” As a family that hangs out in the kitchen rather than the formal living room, the goal of the renovation was to transform the flow and use of the existing spaces. The renovation ensures that every room fits the client’s modern lifestyle while keeping the traditional elements that fit with the original home design and the owner’s heirloom antique furniture. This approach was applied to both interior and exterior, with the front addition using existing elements as a base to transform the non-descript existing façade into an engaging and inviting entry at the street.
Design Challenge
First Floor:- The connection between these main level rooms was reconfigured to create a more contemporary open flow between spaces, allowing them to accommodate large holiday gatherings and everyday family dinners.
- Floor to ceiling sliding doors in the living room transform the whole house, maximizing the indoor-outdoor potential of the space and bringing views of the Golden Gate Bridge through the entire first floor, from dining room to kitchen to family room.
- By opening up the rooms, the main interior stair became a focal point of the space, highlighted by a new skylight above. The new stair and railing were designed with a balance of tradition and modern elements. The custom CNC- screen at the landing was inspired by the owner’s occupation as a Professor of Genetics. The pattern is derived from a gel print of humans’ 23 chromosome-pairs, which generate a unique banding pattern when stained for identification in research.
- A new addition tucks a study under an existing deck, enlarging a once dark and enclosed family room, connecting it to the patio and providing natural light.
- The existing back 2nd floor deck was rebuilt over the new Family room addition and extended to create a bridge to the once inaccessible upper hillside and provide space for a new hot tub. The hot tub is supported on a new concrete retaining wall exposed in the Family room below.
- Entry to the bathroom was moved so the bed could be place for optimal views and allow access to the new porch. The south west window corner is original and was the inspiration for enhancing the treetop atmosphere of the room.
- New full height storage area from existing crawlspace; Conversion of two narrow garage doors to a single door; Structural upgrades throughout.
Physical Context
Response to the Site:- The existing Elm tree's tap root was directly below the old entry stairs. The new infill wall was formed and poured around the root and a new planter was designed to keep the exposed portion of the root in the ground.
- A small cantilevered concrete deck was added to connect the garage deck off the living room and main patio. It also provides cover for the new access door to the garage.
- The door was customized to match the existing reveals on the concrete retaining wall.
- The new guardrail was carefully considered from interior. Metal "View Boxes" ensure that the Golden Gate Bridge is still visible when sitting on the couch.