CARVED TERRACE BLOCK
San Francisco, California, USA

Project
Housing

Client
AIA SF

Size
480 sqm / 5200 sqft (enclosed area)
340 sqm / 3700 sqft (terrace area)

Collaborators
DESIGENG
Oaki Studio

Awards
American Institute of Architects San Francisco Merit Award - Housing+ San Francisco 2050 Design Competition

A NEW CONTEXTUAL TYPOLOGY
San Francisco’s largest neighborhood, the Sunset District, has great potential for increasing density within a city with chronic housing shortages and sky-high real estate costs. Corner lots offer the best opportunity for increased density without major disruption to the residential fabric of the area.  These also provide prime locations for new public facing programs including shops, restaurants, cafes, and community spaces that help localize services within the neighborhood. 

The outer skin is a soft grey veil of wood, reminiscent of shingle style houses in the Bay Area.  At times the veil is interrupted by terrace subtractions or large windows, other times running past windows in a delicate filigree. Inset volumes contrast the gray wood with naturally colored oiled wood.  Wood surfaces wrap the interiors yielding warm, embracing spaces. A contemporary interpretation of the bay window pops out from the façade plane to allow light and additional space to bedrooms yet maintain privacy. A communal roof terrace promotes social interaction and provides ocean views to the west.

PROGRAM DIAGRAM
The scheme as shown contains compact loft units, but these could be conjoined in different configurations for larger units. Though sited for Corner Parcels A & B, this approach could easily be adapted to other corner parcels in the district.

FORM-SPACE
Carved Terrace Block is composed of interlocking loft units that provide contemporary micro-living to increase density within the city. With the mild Mediterranean climate of San Francisco, priority is placed on carving outdoor rooms into the block which serve as extensions of conditioned areas of the units.

Powder Print, Street-Level View

Powder Print, Elevation View