Listing of the Day
Location: San Francisco, California Price: $25 million
One glimpse of this Beaux Arts building, with its elaborate friezes of foliage, garlands, cornices, and scroll corbels, and the grandeur of a bygone era comes to life.
Commissioned circa 1901, the home was designed by San Francisco architect James Francis Dunn for James Madison, a Danish entrepreneur who made his fortune in the packing industry with the Alaska Salmon Company. During World War II the home was converted into an apartment building to accommodate wounded soldiers.
Later owned by former San Francisco Mayor Angelo Rossi, the building was restored in 2015 to its former glory, along with some needed 21st-century updates.
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The project was spearheaded by Southern California-based architect Paul McClean, owner of McClean Design. Originally trained in Ireland, Mr. McClean specializes in designing modern homes that maximize surrounding views and connect with nature, says listing agent Neal Ward. "This San Francisco project completely reflects his core dedication to contemporary living," says Mr. Ward.
To restore the exterior façade, "new molds were cast for the plaster embellishments and capitals, and some exterior elements were even hand-carved by artisan workers," Mr. Ward said.
The interior on the other hand, was a different story. "There wasn’t much left of the original interior when Mr. McClean began plans on the site," Mr. Ward says. "He had a relatively blank slate to work with."
The Stats
The 9,095-square-foot home has seven bedrooms, seven full bathrooms and three partial baths. An elevator services all main levels. Additionally, there’s an attached two-car garage.
Design Pedigree
Beyond the grand columned portico, the five-story house boasts interiors with period architectural detailing juxtaposed against a contemporary aesthetic. Common rooms bear grand proportions originally designed for large-scale entertaining. They’ve since been reconfigured to maximize the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay views from nearly every room in the house via massive picture windows. The home incorporates materials from around the world, such as massive Calacatta marble slabs from Europe in the kitchen and white oak hardwood flooring hand-rubbed with European oils throughout. Additional detailing includes glass-enclosed fireplaces with marble mantels, notched baseboards, and soaring ceilings with gallery-style lighting.
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Amenities
Considering this home lies in the heart of a city, one of its most coveted features is the heated infinity pool and spa on the roof deck overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco Bay. "This was a feat of engineering that involved lowering the top level ceiling, installing a new solid steel roof pan, and craning in the plunge pool from Vallejo Street," says Mr. Ward. There’s also a spa lounge with sky-lit cathedral ceilings and a travertine slab service station, as well as an outdoor fire pit. The home also showcases a third-floor media room with a gas-log fireplace, wet bar, and a glass wall that opens to a balcony, revealing inspired vistas of the city and bay beyond.
Neighborhood Notes
The house is located in Pacific Heights, one of the most desirable neighborhoods in San Francisco, where homes are listed and sold at price points exceeding $20 million throughout the year. It’s just a few blocks from the city’s best restaurants and shopping.
Listing agents: Malin Giddings and Neal Ward, Compass.