Peter’s House by Craig Steely Architecture
Located above San Francisco’s Dolores Park on a steep site bordering a public garden, the decidedly small house, builds on this steep lot as efficiently as possible.
![Peter’s House by Craig Steely Architecture](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/001-peters-house-craig-steely-architecture-460x659.jpg)
![Peter’s House by Craig Steely Architecture](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/002-peters-house-craig-steely-architecture-460x613.jpg)
![Peter’s House by Craig Steely Architecture](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/006-peters-house-craig-steely-architecture-460x669.jpg)
![Peter’s House by Craig Steely Architecture](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/005-peters-house-craig-steely-architecture-460x613.jpg)
![Peter’s House by Craig Steely Architecture](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/012-peters-house-craig-steely-architecture-460x306.jpg)
![Peter’s House by Craig Steely Architecture](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/011-peters-house-craig-steely-architecture-460x306.jpg)
![Peter’s House by Craig Steely Architecture](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/010-peters-house-craig-steely-architecture-460x306.jpg)
![Peter’s House by Craig Steely Architecture](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/009-peters-house-craig-steely-architecture-460x306.jpg)
![Peter’s House by Craig Steely Architecture](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/008-peters-house-craig-steely-architecture-460x345.jpg)
![Peter’s House by Craig Steely Architecture](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/007-peters-house-craig-steely-architecture-460x690.jpg)
![Peter’s House by Craig Steely Architecture](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/013-peters-house-craig-steely-architecture-460x690.jpg)
![Peter’s House by Craig Steely Architecture](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/014-peters-house-craig-steely-architecture-460x299.jpg)
![Peter’s House by Craig Steely Architecture](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/015-peters-house-craig-steely-architecture-460x306.jpg)
![Peter’s House by Craig Steely Architecture](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/016-peters-house-craig-steely-architecture-460x306.jpg)
![Peter’s House by Craig Steely Architecture](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/017-peters-house-craig-steely-architecture-460x306.jpg)
![Peter’s House by Craig Steely Architecture](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/018-peters-house-craig-steely-architecture-460x320.jpg)
![Peter’s House by Craig Steely Architecture](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/004-peters-house-craig-steely-architecture-460x314.jpg)
![Peter’s House by Craig Steely Architecture](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/019-peters-house-craig-steely-architecture-460x613.jpg)
![Peter’s House by Craig Steely Architecture](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/020-peters-house-craig-steely-architecture-460x586.jpg)
Description by Craig Steely Architecture
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. 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.
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. 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. 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.
Visit Craig Steely Architecture
- by Matt Watts