2.19.2021 | DIGS.NET 17
P R O F I L E | W A L K E R W A R N E R A R C H I T E C T S
ORIGINALLY BUILT IN THE 1920S, THIS SAN FRANCISCO HOME WAS RECENTLY RENOVATED BY WALKER WARNER ARCHITECTS.
says Brooks Walker, principal at Walker Warner Architects.
"I always say great clients get great projects." Sharing the
same vision and respectful approach as the owners of this
Pacific Heights home convinced Walker to work on the reno-
vation. The couple—who has two daughters—trusted the
architect to find the right property for their family, one with
the greatest potential to fit their needs. After spotting and
evaluating different options together, the owners and Walker
picked an Italian Renaissance-style home that was built in
1925 and had remained mostly untouched. "It was like a time
capsule," remembers Walker, who has been passionate about
architecture from a young age, and is particularly influenced
by the simplicity and precision of William Wurster's works.
Before starting the remodel, the house underwent an
evaluation due to its old character. The process resulted in
the home's qualification as a historic resource. "The report
identified two and a half facades to the building [that couldn't
be touched]: the primary street facade, the side facade
and a portion of the backyard. The addition was designed
beyond that, where the old kitchen used to be," notes Walker.
Respecting these rules meant clearly delineating the old
and the new. To do so, the architect was inspired by what
is usually done on the other side of the Atlantic. "We ended
up drawing inspiration from the historic London town homes
where you see the modernist interventions in contrast to the
historic architecture, and it's clear what's what," he explains.
"My first criteria, thinking about
projects, starts with the client,"
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