West Berkeley Duet
-
When our client first showed us the lot he purchased in West Berkeley, there was a severely neglected house and a detached garage on it. But, because the planning code permitted a second unit on the lot, the idea was to remove the garage and add a second unit at the rear of the property. He could rent, and ultimately sell the front unit, and live in the new second unit.
There was a suggestion to tear down the existing dilapidated building – but we chose a major remodel instead. We felt the character of the Victorian-style structure was worth maintaining for a few reasons: the building was one of the few of that design left on the street; the steep roofs, when vaulted, make for interesting interior spaces; and, we didn’t want the building to look too bulky from the outside. The roof line allows for a second floor that appears more modest in scale.
Creating two well-proportioned units that complement one another was an important design consideration. The outdoor spaces formed by the two buildings needed to be inviting, sun-filled and functional. To that end, we designed private spaces for both units as well as a larger shared space between them.
The exterior of the new unit takes its cues from the existing structure, but the interiors are more contemporary. We designed a tansu-inspired staircase to display some of the owner’s artwork. The bedrooms have vaulted ceilings, and the dining area – part of one large open space – opens to a small private patio and water feature.