Sun filters through this handsome, shingled, 1907 San Francisco house after a remodel added ingenious skylights and a wall of glass that opens to an inviting garden.

Architect Malcolm Davis loves exposing the bones of an old house to reveal its hidden character, and slicing sections out of walls and rooftops to let light trickle in.

“To be honest, I’m a little claustrophobic and I guess you can tell when you see my work,” he says. “I need to be able to see outside, to see natural light, and get this invitation to go outside and use the garden.”

The garden is divided into outdoor rooms that mirror the interior layout with separate dining, cooking, and lounge areas.

Thomas J. Story

Like many older San Francisco homes, the backyard was unusable before the renovation. Concrete seating and hardy plants make it a low-maintenance outdoor room now.

Thomas J. Story

This handsome, shingled house in the Richmond, bordering the Presidio, is a prime example of how he makes this philosophy work, even in the notoriously gloomy climate in the northwestern quadrant of San Francisco.

“Because you have that big, open living space with all of that glass, even on a gray day it feels really inviting,” he says.

A paper garland hangs in the front entry, where light pours in from the higher floors. Felt rug by Peace Industry.

Thomas J. Story

The formal living room with its original bay window went mostly untouched. Their dog, Hazel, lounges in the sun.

Thomas J. Story

The homeowners, Jen and Adrian, knew they wanted to work with Davis’s team at Malcolm Davis Architecture because of their deftness with incorporating modern ideas into older, richly detailed homes. Jen has a master’s degree in architecture, and wanted to work with Davis because she trusted the way he handled historic houses. The exterior of their 1907 home was protected by preservation codes, and there were many elements of the interior that were worth saving. But a few additions that had been cobbled onto the rear of the house over the years made the layout feel disjointed, and failed to take advantage of the impressive amount of interior and exterior space.

Unlacquered brass accents in the kitchen will patina with time. The combination of Marine Black soapstone and Pure White Caesarstone countertops create a dramatic contrast. Pendant lights by Allied Maker.

Thomas J. Story

“I find homes that are very modern to be too cold,” she says. “So we blended the modern with the traditional. I am afraid I drove Malcolm nuts with the conversations about trim. We wanted to maintain traditional details, and carry the trim through to some of the rooms, but not use it where it didn’t make sense.”

A matte black Lacanche range with brass trim was a worthy kitchen splurge.

Thomas J. Story

By knocking down some interior walls and installing a massive support beam that spanned the first floor, they were able to create an expansive living, kitchen, and dining area. By lowering the floor of a conversation area adjacent to the kitchen, they opened up the house to a functional, multilevel rear garden that was easily accessible through wide glass doors. The front entry, sitting room, and staircase were left largely untouched, but they’re now connected to an airier, family-friendly living space.

A long, green velvet built-in anchors the sunken seating area, which opens up to the garden level. Lina swivel chairs from DWR can turn to face the outdoors or the kitchen.

Thomas J. Story

An air-plant installation in the dining room is a low-cost, high-impact way to fill a blank wall.

Thomas J. Story

“I love looking at how people in Europe work with beautiful old buildings, how they’ll respect the existing details and then work new things in,” says Davis. “It’s not like you have to have crown molding on the dishwasher, but you also don’t need to erase every trace of what came before.”

A lofty office painted Benjamin Moore Simply White invites light into the traditional three-story house.

Thomas J. Story

While the garden is the obvious scene-stealer, it was the MDA team’s work on the attic that truly transformed the house. Daylight travels from the third floor all the way down to the front door, thanks to some ingenious skylights that let the sun’s rays bounce and reflect through the center of the structure.

The MDA team added a stairwell with a sinuous banister to access the third floor.

Thomas J. Story

“There was a tandem thing that happened when we added another staircase to get to the top floor office,” says Davis. “The new stairs mirrored the existing stairs. The office up at the top has a low glass wall, and then there are skylights behind it. So the light shines through the office, through the glass wall and then into the main stairwell. Then we opened up the ceiling there and exposed the framing. So it makes this wonderful quality of light that comes all the way down to the entry. It’s kind of a subtle thing, but when you walk into the house there’s a lot of daylight there. It creates this wonderful drama and light play.”

Light bounces off the Heron Blue Heath tile in the primary bathroom, which has a space-saving wet area behind glass doors.

Thomas J. Story

Thick curtains match the Farrow & Ball Railings paint in the primary bedroom, creating a dark, quiet, cocoonlike space for sleeping.

Thomas J. Story

The house has unfinished brass fixtures throughout, some original and others new, like this Watermark faucet with exposed angle stops.

Thomas J. Story

An interesting contrast between light and dark, rich stained floors and Simply White walls, waxed soapstone and white granite, is evident all over the home. In the primary bathroom, where the addition of two more skylights lets light in from opposite exposures, north and south, the Heron Blue variegated Heath tile on the walls appears to shift and change throughout the day. Unlacquered brass fixtures add a hint of subtle, metallic glow throughout. And while the common spaces are bright and welcoming, the bedrooms are quiet, cocoonlike spaces, enveloped in thick curtains and dark, moody walls.

A child’s bedroom is painted in Farrow & Ball Bancha.

Thomas J. Story

The art over the mantel and the coffee table were inherited from Jen’s grandmother, and contribute to the unique mix of classic and modern furnishings.

Thomas J. Story

“I love playing off of contrasts,” says Jen. “The house feels very contemporary, but it’s also filled with so many things I inherited from my grandmother, who was an artist. We use her dining table surrounded by very modern chairs. There’s a lot of great interior light, but there are dark, quiet places to rest. There are places where we wanted to invite the light in, and others where we knew we wanted to block it out. And it was so great to work with people who really understood that relationship.”

Architect: Malcolm Davis Architecture
General Contractor: Jeff King and Company
Landscape Architect: Lutsko Associates

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SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — The historic Castro Theater in San Francisco’s Castro District announced Wednesday that it is partnering with Another Planet Entertainment and transforming into a live music venue.

APE has plans to significantly improve the sound, lighting, production, HVAC and the theatre’s trademark mark.

RELATED: Keanu Reeves shares SF highlights during ‘Matrix Resurrections’ film premiere at Castro Theatre

Bay Properties Inc. is the owner of the Castro Theatre.

“After operating the Castro Theater for nearly a hundred years, we have chosen to partner with Another Planet Entertainment for the next evolution of our historic theatre,” said Chris Nasser Padian, Bay Properties vice president. “Another Planet is an ideal partner, as they have a rich history with the City and in rehabilitating historic venues. Bay Properties is excited that the partnership with APE will continue the legacy of the Castro Theater and Castro neighborhood.”

The grand reopening is set for 2023, according to the SF Chronicle.

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April 28, 2022

After being fenced off for 80 years, the site of the former Francisco Reservoir on San Francisco’s Russian Hill is now open to the public as the city’s newest park.

Francisco Park, which is on Bay Street between Larkin and Hyde, sits upon the original site of the Francisco Reservoir, the city’s first reservoir. Considering its history, it was only fitting that city leaders celebrated the park’s opening on Wednesday with a watering ceremony.

The reservoir was constructed in the 1800s and served the city until it ceased operations in 1940. It completely shut down in 1966, and had been fenced off for decades.

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APE has plans to significantly improve the theater’s sound, lighting, production, air conditioning and branding.

RELATED: Keanu Reeves shares SF highlights during ‘Matrix Resurrections’ movie premiere at Castro Theater

Bay Properties Inc. owns the Castro Theatre.

“Having operated the Castro Theater for almost a hundred years, we have decided to partner with Another Planet Entertainment for the next development of our historic theater,” said Chris Nasser Padian, vice president of Bay Properties. “Another Planet is an ideal partner as they have a rich history with the city and the restoration of historic venues. Bay Properties is delighted that the partnership with APE will continue the legacy of the Castro Theater and the Castro District.”

The grand reopening is scheduled for 2023, according to the SF Chronicle.

We’re excited to announce a new development – after operating the Castro Theater for nearly a hundred years, we’re teaming up with our friends at @apeconcerts to bring you world-class entertainment and the next evolution of our historic theatre.https: //t. co/3iqSWuTCvJ

— Castro Theater (@Castro_Theatre) January 19, 2022

Copyright © 2022 KGO-TV. All rights reserved.

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