Monte Serino residence in San Francisco: unexpected design twists from Modern House Architects, USA

The staff at Modern House Architects worked on the project. You can see they had the brief to design a modern private hotel. After all, San Francisco is a world tourist destination and has the third highest number of foreign visitors to the United States. Over 16 million people a year visit here. The residence has two levels, and consists of a series of enclosed and open spaces. In close connection with the surrounding landscape are the living and dining room. Huge double-high windows in the rear of the house allow you to see into the courtyard. Several glass doors in the same wall provide access to the terrace with an infinity pool.

High ceilings of the rooms and luxurious ambience, many different sofas and armchairs – everything says that here will be different people at the same time. Almost all spaces have access to the street. Bookcases and a desk with a globe are placed in the long hallway. Note, the wood in the interior brings the features of traditional furnishings. The use of concrete and steel for the façade adds dynamics, modernity. See how light and simple the building feels on the first floor, thanks to the abundance of glass. And how the structure is weighted down on the second one because of the dark wood panels on the facade. Experts call the contrast “surprising”.

On the one hand – the logical completeness of the structure, on the other – obvious touches of unfinished. Who would have thought that the bare concrete walls were part of the planned design and not the forgetfulness of the builders. What associations this architectural form evokes in you?