Work in Progress: San Francisco
CahillStudio enjoys long relationships with its clients, and that may include designing more than one home for them. Owners of Hilltop Estate in Sonoma have roots in San Francisco and wanted a city dwelling. In San Francisco's Russian Hill neighborhood, they found an apartment with expansive bay views in an understated 1920s luxury co-op building, which holds just seven units, one per floor. The owners sought Chris Cahill's design perspective on a transformative remodel that would feel casually elegant, maximize panoramic views, and accommodate entertaining.
Forty years had passed since the apartment was last remodeled, and it was the last of the seven units to undergo an extensive renovation. Everyone in the building welcomed the remodel project, as previously undetected plumbing leaks linked to the unit could now be addressed. However, undertaking this project during a pandemic added a layer of challenge to others soon discovered in a building this age.
CahillStudio chose Fontana Construction as their collaborator. Once demolition began, Stevan Fontana and his team exposed several significant discoveries complicating the intended approach to the project. The most unusual of these discoveries were 100-year-old terra cotta ceiling tile blocks throughout the entire unit. Their intention was not immediately clear. We surmised they provided additional sound insulation and fire separation between floors and should be kept in place. "Given time, quality, and cost drive projects, the discovery of the ceiling tiles adds another layer of approach...We can get over the hurdle; we need to determine how." None of the subcontractors nor engineers brought in had ever seen open ceiling tiles like this before in a building. Their presence complicates several areas, and yet there are multiple impacts by removing them. The 1920s "building is not level; therefore, the ceiling is not level. The terra cotta tiles are the control point for maintaining a level ceiling height."
Chris, Stevan Fontana, and the construction team reconvened to assess strategy. "The concrete joists are closer together than typically seen, which narrows the channel in which to work...Joists determine the route" for all plumbing and electrical planning. Old plumbing pipes fill space between floors - within concrete containment - and it is unclear which plumbing is active or dead due to multiple remodels by the above tenants. Verifying all is another layer added to the process to avoid compromising a tenant's unit.
Another critical issue revealed through the discovery process is the complete absence of venting for fans and kitchen exhaust hoods required today. We needed to install ducts through exterior walls to meet today's standards for all baths and the new kitchen. The solution to avoid penetrating the brick exterior walls was to route vents through abandoned airshaft windows.
Chris and the Fontana team have expediently assessed and proposed solutions to the owners for these necessary accommodations without sacrificing design integrity. Like this one, successful collaborations hinge on clear communication, shared values, vision, and priorities.
Stay tuned.
