After being tapped by a young, growing family to transform an existing attic into a more accessible, functional space, San Francisco–based Mork-Ulnes Architects went above and beyond exceptions. The result is a two-story volume carved in the center of the home that connects the existing living areas to daylight-filled attic spaces above. This modern intervention now provides an open feel to what once was a fairly fragmented home.

The new gabled attic floor plan is arranged in a linear fashion, with two bedrooms divided by a series of partition walls. The open stairwell separates the master bedroom, closet, and bath from a second bedroom.

By incorporating framed glass openings into the drywall partitions, acoustical privacy is still achieved while allowing transparency and continuity between the separate rooms. The addition of skylights draw plentiful daylight into a typically dark, confined space—creating a feeling of grandeur and openness.

With a simple, refined material palette, the architects were able to connect the new sleeping quarters with the main living spaces below. Wood elements carry from floor to floor, connecting existing to new through continuous, thoughtful detailing.

From the wood casework details and window frames, to the angular expressions and wooden guardrail, wooden framework is the unifying detail that blends old and new while also echoing the original structure within the modern shell.

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Mork-Ulnes Architects

Structural Engineer: Strandberg Engineering

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A Two-Story Atrium Revamps This San Francisco Victorian Into an Airy, Modern Home