ROSSINGTON ARCHITECTURE
San Francisco
rossingtonarchitecture.com

A.MURPHY CONSTRUCTION
Point Richmond, Calif.
murphyconstruction.com

Project name: Elsie Street Residence
Project location: San Francisco
Square footage: 2,400
Total project cost: $1 million

The owner of this home had a large number of goals for this small, steep lot set within a typical San Francisco context of single-family houses with zero lot lines. A desire for light-filled, modern, open spaces with ample exterior access and to take advantage of stunning views from all levels presented formidable design challenges on a lot that slopes up 48 ft. from the street. The lot itself is 25 ft. wide by 70 ft., bounded by houses on either side — a tough context in which to fit a three-bedroom, 2½ bathroom home.

The challenge for Rossington Architecture in San Francisco lay not only in the physical restrictions of the site, but also in the strict rules of the special-use district within which the residence is located. Elsie Street itself also has its own set of design guidelines above and beyond those of the district and the city at large. The regulations dictated maximum square footage façade articulation, contextual considerations, limits on building bulk and architectural massing, location of curb cuts and mandatory partial side yard setbacks. To get quick approval, all regulations and guidelines were strictly followed, easing entitlements.

Using the political and physical restrictions to Rossington’s advantage, it created outdoor access from every major room in the house and allowed for unimpeded city views from all levels. These objectives were resolved by pulling the house off the property lines, creating multiple decks at the front of the house and a bridge to the upper rear yard.