A Stylish and Playful Modern Penthouse in San Francisco

20th St is a playful modern penthouse designed by Mork Ulnes Architects. The home is located in San Francisco, California, USA, with an operable steel screen and playful interior atmosphere

by Carlotta Sep 29, 2020 14 Images

20th St by Mork Ulnes Architects

This renovation represents unconventional materials’ capacity to elevate a project otherwise constricted by a tiny budget and planning scrutiny.

With an imperative to create an impact on the exterior but remain within the city’s preservation and zoning requirements, a matte black cladding, typically used on skateboarding ramps, wraps the house’s existing two-levels.

The residence’s social functions are relocated into a vertical penthouse addition with sweeping views. A hand-drilled, operable steel screen doubles as an awning and diffuses light to imbue the penthouse with a playful atmosphere.

The same hills that poise the residence to have panoramic views also create a notably steep backyard. This sectional condition is celebrated as it enables a connection directly from the third floor to the back garden via a steel catwalk.

Photos by: Mork Ulnes Architects & Bruce Damonte