Tall Stack
Forgan Residence, San Francisco
Delicately balancing new construction and existing conditions is the key to successful infill development. That’s exactly what architect/homeowner Strachan Forgan accomplished when he took on a challenging 25-foot-wide-by-42-foot-deep lot with a steep slope. He wedged his modern masterpiece into a hill on two sides and a low-rise residential building on the third.
Situated in the city’s well-established Glen Park Village neighborhood at the entrance to a public recreation area, the custom design responds to the site’s dual personality—urban district meets wooded park. A two-story bay window is a contemporary interpretation of traditional San Francisco townhouse architecture, and a soft, gray and green exterior color palette reflects that of the surrounding eucalyptus grove.
The tall, narrow box is 1,850 square feet in four stories. The living and dining rooms and kitchen are on the second floor, with a mezzanine office, laundry, and guest quarters above that, and a master suite occupying the entire top level. Although the sides of the house are windowless, the double-height projecting bay, along with considerable glazing on the backside, floods the deep plan with daylight.
Accessible, usable outdoor space was a priority for Forgan, who designed a glass wall of accordion doors at the rear of the plan, off the kitchen. When open, the living spaces become one with a private, wood-decked rear terrace. A gray stain to match the home’s exterior and a bed of landscaping, including bamboo, softens the impact of the massive concrete retaining wall.
The walls of glass, along with a dramatic glass staircase, make the ascension to the master suite seem like climbing up to a tree house. Further enhancing the indoor/outdoor relationship, a pair of French doors opens from the master bedroom to a fourth-floor terrace providing views through the trees to the canyon park beyond.
A prime example of infill done right, this gem of a custom home respects the forest as well as the village, striking a perfect pitch to harmonize with both.—Carolyn Weber
Award: Grand for best custom home—under 5,000 square feet; Builder: Bradford Construction, San Francisco; Architect: Strachan Forgan, San Francisco
