Montcalm

Project year: 2007 | Location: San Francisco, California

One of the original 1906 earthquake shacks was brought to Bernal Heights and added onto over the years, including an in-law unit below it.

About The Project

This 1906 cottage was one of many built on Bernal Hill to provide emergency housing for earthquake refugees. Its steeply sloping lot provided an opportunity to expand into the lower level. A new steel stair leads from the living room to the new master suite below. Windows along the stair offer glimpses of the cityscape beyond. At the garden level, the suite opens up to a newly landscaped back yard and deck.

“We hired Phil as our architect on a couple of renovation projects that we did on our home over the past few years. One a major renovation, joining two previously separate units on two different levels; and a redesign of the garden area with water feature (we ripped out a large deck and started from scratch). Phil is both creative and pragmatic, which combined with his years of architectural experience makes for great solutions that use the space well and work from a practical point of view. Both of these projects won awards, one for the renovation design, and one for the garden design. The renovation was even featured in the SF Chronicle. Phil is easy going, easy to work with and takes a lot of the hassle out of dealing with contractors and the city. I liked the fact that he runs a small "boutique" architectural shop and the very personalized service that we got as a result. I am very happy to recommend Phil as an excellent architect who will shepherd you through the process and produce a great end result.”
Kel S.Project Owner