An early 1960s San Francisco residence by architect Joseph Esherick has been brought to the 21st century by Richard Beard Architects and The Wiseman Group.
Located nearby San Francisco Bay, this mid-century home is in need of an update. Some fifty years after it was designed by famed Bay Area architect Joseph Esherick and landscape architect Lawrence Halprin, the house had become something of a relic.
Modern, muscular architecture concealed a floor plan that was no longer suited for a contemporary lifestyle – the original interiors were surprisingly traditional and divided into a rabbit warren of small-scale spaces.
The challenge was thus to reconfigure the layout and edit the interiors while honouring the large-scale architectural elements that made the house significant. Key to the renovation was reorienting the living spaces to the large central atrium topped by a dramatic concrete-and-glass ceiling and opening the house to the surrounding verdant landscape.
A mix of custom-designed furnishings and period pieces, as well as blue chip art now bathe the home in cool sophistication. Outside, the landscape and pool were restructured to better connect with the home’s interiors. The house, its interiors and grounds are now a harmonious expression that gives the home new relevance.
