A 19th century structure becomes a unique home office.
Our clients approached us with the idea to transform a "turn of the century" water tower and pump house was into a home studio. The tower is a relic from a 19th century ranch which is located on a knoll shaded by heritage oak trees at the end of a trellis-covered path adjacent to the clients' 50's era residence.The tower was approximately 100 years old and needed seismic bracing. Additionally, the original timber tank, roofing, flooring, and walls showed rot. Working with architect Geoffrey Holton, a full structural renovation was planned along the new entry deck and canopy.
The tower's original window and door locations were retained and the interior studio space was to be opened with many additional windows. The pump house shed roof was cut open to reveal the underside of the water tank, transforming the pump house from feeling like a box to feeling like a tower. Built-in furniture and modern wiring for computer access brings this home office stongly into the 21st century.
The romance of the tower and the clients' desire for salvaging their unique structure influenced several other renovation solutions. The "new" beams inserted for seismic bracing were salvaged old redwood beams, which matched the patina and strength of the original beams. The "new" clerestory windows are a combination of new awning windows and salvaged glass doors laid horizontally. Details like these, along with our clients' sense of adventure, resulted in a truly unique structure that is at once historical and modern.
Geoffrey Holton, Architect
339 15th Street
Oakland, CA
94612
tel: 510.663.9797
fax: 510.663.1807
Featured in Sunset magazine.
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