Builder's Choice

Octavia Court

San Francisco

1 MIN READ

Once a gritty enclave, San Francisco’s Hayes Valley is now hip, with trendy stores and cafes. It’s now also home to Octavia Court, affordable housing for the developmentally disabled.

The façade of the corner low-rise is a patterned mix of resin-impregnated wood, stainless steel, stucco, glass, and tile. Interweaving higher-end finishes with less expensive ones didn’t just provide visual interest—it helped with cost savings, points out architect Greg Klosowski, principal of ellipsis a+d. Helping, too, are solar panels on the roof that power the house lighting, and corner windows that bring light and skyline views into every unit.

Though difficult, deftly managing the mix of architectural elements was just part of the challenge, says architect Veronica Hinkley-Reck, principal of Ignition Architecture. She also recalls the effort required to juggle the needs of the neighborhood association and meeting budget while fitting housing units, common areas, counseling and support offices, workrooms, and gallery space onto the tight infill lot.

About the Author

Amy Albert

Amy Albert is editor of Custom Home and a senior editor at Builder. She covers all aspects of design. Previously, she was kitchen design editor at Bon Appetit; before that, she was senior editor at Fine Cooking, where she shot, edited, and wrote stories on kitchen design. Amy studied art history with an emphasis on architecture and urban design at the University of Pennsylvania. She lives in Los Angeles. Write her at [email protected], follow her on Twitter @CustomHomeMag and @amyatbuilder, or join her on Custom Home's Facebook page. 

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