90
Inspired West Coast Homes
HILLTOP HIGH-RISE
San Francisco, CA
A 270-degree view of the San Francisco Bay is difficult to
beat, even with well-designed architecture. Vantages from
this apartment high on Russian Hill take in everything from
the Bay Bridge, Alcatraz, and Angel Island to the Golden Gate
Bridge, the Marin Headlands, and Twin Peaks. The architecture
complements the vistas. Bronze detailing, eucalyptus
woodwork, and walnut floors all contribute to a subtle and
pleasant palette that doesn't compete with the natural
beauty beyond. Custom light fixtures, an organic-shaped
wood-clad structural column, and a new fireplace all add to
the composition. What's not apparent are the construction
details required to bury the top and bottom window
mullions, the soffitted mechanical diffusers, and the recessed
trim throughout—all details that contribute to the clean,
minimal finishes which remove the barrier between inside
and outside and extend the living space into the environment
beyond. A final nod to the view is the 33-foot-long wallpaper
on the south wall of the apartment, showing the vantage
in that direction as seen by the famous photographer
Eadweard Muybridge, of stop-action horse photos fame. As
the one panorama in the apartment that you can't actually
see, this vista, circa 1878, completes the 360-degree view.
Photographs by Bruce Damonte Photography
Designed by Mark Horton / Architecture,
San Francisco, CA, page 214
