21 House
San Francisco, USA
This remodel of a kitchen and bathroom in a San Francisco Victorian home explores the effects of transparency in both the literal/material sense and the phenomenal sense. Exterior and interior glass walls allow light to create continuous, multiple readings of space - at different points in time and with various interpretations. The glass box is the perfect layer of protection between the communal nature of the kitchen and the private nature of the bathroom. This translucent wall speaks of sensuality and voyeurism. During the day, light is allowed into the bathroom from the south-facing kitchen, creating a bright, warm interior that accentuates the experience of bathing. In contrast, the translucent volume glows green at night through the use of jelled fluorescents, becoming a beacon for the gleaming kitchen.
Old and new are integrated without obvious historical or stylistic references. We reinterpreted the order of this Victorian by creating alignments of circulation and emphasizing plan diagrams. Custom steel sections, doors and details for the exterior and interior glass walls convey the notion of craftsmanship and tectonics, linking old and new in a reciprocal dialogue.
