Cover The living room in a San Francisco home designed by Studio Vara
The living room in a San Francisco home designed by Studio Vara
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Blending elements of the San Francisco home’s original Queen Anne architecture with the sleek elegance of modern art galleries, Studio Vara has created a truly unforgettable space
For contemporary designers, historic homes pose a unique challenge: how do you build upon an already-existing structure while creating something distinctively new?
In Pacific Heights, San Francisco, Studio Vara spent seven years answering that question through revamping one of the city’s most demanding residential projects. The clients, both architects themselves, had discovered their future home in a state of undeniable disarray: a dilapidated 1894 Queen Anne Victorian, the historical integrity of which had been eroded by multiple changes of ownership and a disparate accumulation of renovations.
Despite these challenges, the couple was drawn to the home’s unique features. Among them are a three-storey tower with turret and finials, as well as carved wooden detailing that establishes the silhouette of a Queen Anne home in Pacific Heights. The expansive property also spans three separate lots, merged into a single property at the peak of the neighbourhood.
Other notable elements they wanted to maintain were a 1980s glass-roofed solarium, as well as a 1930s pedestal that elevated the house by an entire storey to accommodate a garage. Beyond this, the owners wanted to reimagine the San Francisco home’s interior for an art-filled, multigenerational home.
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Above The exterior of a San Francisco home designed by Studio Vara
The exterior of a San Francisco home designed by Studio Vara
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One of Studio Vara’s first tasks was dismantling the low ceilings, which revealed wood framing and steel beams by Pacific Rolling Mills, the same foundry that built the Golden Gate Bridge. Gabled dormers gave way to large picture windows framing panoramic views of San Francisco’s hills and the Bay. New skylights were introduced to flood the upper rooms with natural light, while rooms connected by dedicated hallways opened onto interconnected, airy spaces that echoed the sequential rhythm of a gallery.
Above The entryway in a San Francisco home designed by Studio Vara
Above The staircase in a San Francisco home designed by Studio Vara
The entryway in a San Francisco home designed by Studio Vara
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“As much as possible, we tried to isolate things and make them into freestanding objects that felt like they were sculptures sitting inside this gallery,” shared Maura Abernethy of Studio Vara. The material palette was kept deliberately minimalist with European wide-plank white oak, concrete and steel, allowing the home’s architectural bones to shine through.
At the centre of the home is the grand staircase, moulded from white Corian with floating oak treads. Fabricated by CW Keller & Associates, it rises across all four levels of the home and unites each floor across time and space.
Above The kitchen in a San Francisco home designed by Studio Vara
The kitchen in a San Francisco home designed by Studio Vara
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The kitchen is one of the more innovative spaces in the San Francisco home, what with the three large orb-like forms that serve as kitchen countertops. These hemispherical features by CW Keller & Associates appear to hover over the floor, creating an arresting sculptural moment at the heart of the family’s abode.
The bathrooms are another feat of design collaboration, as Studio Vara worked with artisan Mike Ostrowski to fabricate a series of terrazzo vanities. The clients hand-selected the aggregate and laid out the oversized stone chips themselves, refining the colour palette and composition in a way that felt resonant with their unique approach. In the primary bathroom, angular terrazzo monoliths masquerade as a double vanity, lending the space further gravitas.
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The primary bedroom in a San Francisco home designed by Studio Vara
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Returning to the exterior, Studio Vara wanted to ensure the home could withstand San Francisco’s marine conditions. Working with Chris French Metal, they developed custom aluminium trims and infill panels for the windows and the doors, maintaining greater corrosion resistance. A speciality coating protects the material against oxidation and surface staining, with the trims, deep-set surrounds and a large eyebrow on the north facade of the home.
Altogether, the Modern Artifact home by Studio Vara exemplifies their approach to each project. Instead of imposing their expectations or rushing the process along, they have deliberately infused each step with the care and consideration that such a long-standing property deserves. Their collaborations with artisans, fabricators, structural engineers and builders show just how much effort is needed to keep historical spaces alive. And in the same breath, they prove just how worthwhile such an endeavour truly is.
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Credits
Photography: Matthew Millman
About
Celine first read Charlotte’s Web at the age of five–and she hasn’t stopped turning pages since. Her favourite authors are Mona Awad and Nat Cassidy. Besides writing for Tatler, she listens to BTS and spends time with her family.
Work
Celine took up secondary education with a major in English, graduating from De La Salle University in 2023. She advocates for female empowerment through creative expression by writing for Tatler Homes.
For story leads or inquiries, you may reach out to her via celine.dabao@tatlerasia.com.
