Temescal Modern (Redesign, Lift, Universal Design for Aging in Place)
When the owners of this former single-story, two-bedroom, one-bath Early Craftsman left their charming but compact Berkeley Julia Morgan, they wanted a house they could live in and love for the rest of their lives. First and foremost: they wanted open space. We gave it to them! There’s no more dramatic way to create space than removing a house from its foundation and lifting it nine feet in the air! The resulting home is a two-story, four-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath modern built according to the Universal Design for Aging in Place. While the old house was five steps up from the street, the new home is accessible at grade from the driveway.
On the new first floor, we moved the kitchen to the back of the house, adjacent to an open-plan living and dining room perfect for entertaining. Also on the ground floor: a guest room/office with sliding barn doors, and a fully accessible bathroom with shower. Upstairs, the former dining room and living room entry became a spacious master suite with an expansive, attached master bath. Exposed beams compliment modern finishes chosen by our client, for whom this is their second Amato-designed home. We’re always delighted to collaborate with inspired clients, and we’re very happy when clients appreciate whimsical touches like 49th Street’s mouse-house style retreat for the family cat. It’s just one of the ways this forever-home is the cat’s meow.
