When a project unites the insights and skills of design impresario Ken Fulk and lauded industry-leading architect Toby Levy, cutting-edge infrastructure, intriguing lines, a dedication to light and volume, and an enchanting, atmospheric assemblage of the finest materials in an array of colors and textures should come as no surprise. This penthouse and its aptly named “sky garden” live up to that expectation, commanding some 6,900 magnificent square feet atop an enviable building where nearly every space—including the owner’s bath and walk-in closets—are suffused with natural light and windows and walls of glass blur the line between indoors and out.
San Francisco, California | Gregg Lynn, Sotheby’s International Realty – San Francisco Brokerage
Constructed in 1901 and meticulously renovated, the 7,000-square-foot residence is—at approximately 20 feet wide—impressively spacious and exudes a style that is both timeless and sophisticatedly modern. Many period details have been painstakingly retained: six wood-burning fireplaces, classic moldings, and richly hued oak paneling and floors. An elevator links all seven levels, including the finished basement. An ambience of wonderful airiness and light pervades nearly every space thanks to lofty ceilings and plentiful windows. All of the home’s baths have been stylishly renovated.
In an uncommon configuration, the private quarters are located on the main level along with a well-appointed lounge featuring floating ceilings with built-in LED lighting, paneled walls, artful built-in storage, and a discreet wet bar with a sink and an undercounter refrigerator. One guest bedroom suite adjoins the lounge, while tucked on the sunny southwestern corner of the home is an additional bedroom with automatic shades, a sizeable closet, a colorful rolling industrial “barn” door, and a bath thoughtfully outfitted with Blu Bathworks fittings and fixtures.
Beyond a sturdy pivoting door crafted from iron and glass is the primary bedroom wing, which boasts a light-filled owner’s bedroom; a walk-in closet resembling a tony boutique; and an enviable gym with a mirrored wall, cork flooring for soundproofing, a unique glass-enclosed infrared sauna, and a refreshing steamshower. The spa-like owner’s bath offers dual sinks, a strikingly angled contemporary tub, a separate shower with a rain head and body jets, and a window gazing into the treetops. Near the center of the main floor, a sequestered office with backlit shelving is perfectly suited for quiet contemplation. Rack-based technological equipment cleverly cached in the handsome laundry room.
Glass-sided stairs rise to the home’s upper level, which primarily comprises an impressive great room encompassing living and dining spaces warmed by a dazzling double-sided steel fireplace and a streamlined chef’s kitchen with superior appliances and counter seating. Multiple senses are engaged here, with mesmerizing views, a notable tinted-glass-walled wine room, a wet bar, and theater components ingeniously concealed behind automatic sliding panels bearing a dramatic wood-grain pattern.
Measuring roughly 3,000 square feet, the sky garden was, without a doubt, created for sophisticated living and grand-scale gatherings amid a setting of towering rooftops and wide-open blue sky. Wrapping around the interior spaces of the home’s upper level, it boasts views that stretch toward the downtown skyline and resort-caliber amenities unprecedented in a private residence: TopLine artificial turf that contributes to the vibrant verdancy; an outdoor kitchen with quartz countertops, a sink, and a built-in grill accompanied by two burners; a Moroccan-inspired cabana; a hot tub; a built-in audio system; and custom lighting that illuminates dining space for a crowd and two lounge areas—one with a fire table.
A 21st-century Bay Area home demands top-caliber comforts and conveniences, which here include whole-house lighting, window shades, audiovisual, and climate systems maintained by Lutron and Savant controls and security and surveillance configured by PAC Integrations. With its majestic Palladian windows and remnants of railroad tracks, the building itself makes a nod to history and its provenance as a 1920s warehouse that was painstakingly rejuvenated and updated. Prestigious offices, exceptional restaurants, and other amenities are within easy reach. Steps away is the street’s eponymous park, which dates to 1855 and survives as another piece of the city’s history that—like this penthouse and its building—now thrives as a modern-day gem.
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