The original building, constructed in 1904, began its’ life as a neighborhood hardware store. The new owner has renovated the rather bleak structure to accommodate his home and three additional living units. The structure has been transformed from a bandaged building into a unique home with a diverse palette of textures, tones, and patterns.  

Entertaining was a major component which drove the open plan. The space remains flexible, allowing for a large dinner engagement or a pop-up art exhibition. Wherever possible, existing finishes and materials were kept intact including hardwood and concrete floors, interior brickwork, and original decorative columns. Wood elements were sanded and stained a dark matte finish along with custom fabricated wood details made to match existing profiles found in the building.  

The street facade, previously damaged on the second story by a fire, was previously rebuilt with a solid concrete block wall. The new design now maximizes the natural light and views of the city with large openings. In the owner’s suite, the glazing extends from the main floor, up along the spiral staircase into the bathroom. On the east exterior wall, a series of windows were punched through the existing load bearing brick to open the additional units up to the courtyard. There was an opportunity for the facades to enliven and activate the spaces around the building. The east façade adjacent to the courtyard became a canvas where a large mural was commissioned. The southern street facade became a canvas in its own way; it needed a solution that spoke to the activities and energy of the residence and the neighborhood. Given constraints of budget and scale, a natural redwood decking was chosen as cladding. To further engage the street, the cladding was designed to ‘wave’ and ‘ripple’ while extending over the sidewalk. The choice of the unfinished natural wood and steel allows the texture and tones to change and evolve with time.