- Project: Silver Lining House
- Architect: Mork Ulnes Architects
- Location: United States, San Francisco, California
- Year: 2022
- Area: 152 m2
- Photography: Bruce Damonte
A Rebirth of Craft and Character in Bernal Heights
Rising along the steep streets of San Francisco’s Bernal Heights, Silver Lining House by Mork-Ulnes Architects, with interiors by Alison Damonte, represents the poetic transformation of a tragedy into architectural opportunity. Originally a modest 1908 residence, the home was nearly destroyed by fire in 2017. The event became the catalyst for a complete reinvention—one that pays homage to the city’s Edwardian heritage while expressing the creative spirit of its designer owners.
The result is a three-story residence that bridges the gap between historic charm and modern sensibility, serving as both a living space and a gallery—a vessel for art, furniture, and experimentation.
Context & Transformation
The original structure—a single-story wood home with a low-pitched roof—was an anomaly among the taller, gabled neighbors typical of early 20th-century San Francisco. When the fire destroyed much of the existing building, architect Casper Mork-Ulnes reimagined the project not as a restoration, but as an evolution—a reinterpretation of the Edwardian vernacular through a contemporary lens.
The new cedar-clad façade mirrors the horizontal paneling of nearby homes while introducing modern proportions and graphical fenestration. Its black-painted exterior contrasts dramatically with its lighter-toned neighbors, making the structure both respectful and distinctive.
At street level, the design retains traditional gestures—an entry stoop, gabled silhouette, and stepped massing—while abstracting them into a minimalist composition. This sensitive contextual approach enables Silver Lining House to blend harmoniously into the historic streetscape without mimicry.
Architectural Character & Exterior Language
The design captures the dual identity of the house: rooted in tradition yet unmistakably modern. Mork-Ulnes reinterprets classic Victorian and Edwardian features—such as siding patterns, rooflines, and window rhythms—with bold clarity.
The structure’s clean lines and crisp geometry are tempered by the warmth of natural cedar siding, creating a dialogue between craftsmanship and abstraction. The vertical ribbon windows punctuating the façade provide moments of transparency, connecting interior life with the surrounding neighborhood and the changing sky.
Interiors: A Living Gallery
Inside, Alison Damonte crafted a sequence of interiors designed to function as both home and artistic laboratory. The three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath residence unfolds across three levels, unified by a sculptural curved central staircase that serves as the spatial and emotional heart of the home.
Carved in smooth plaster and illuminated from above by a large skylight, the staircase channels daylight through the center of the house—creating dynamic shadows that shift throughout the day. This vertical flow of light transforms the interior into a vitrine of materials, textures, and artworks, accentuating the couple’s personal collection of contemporary furniture and art pieces.
Material & Spatial Narrative
The interiors juxtapose refined craftsmanship with playful eclecticism. A palette of white plaster, oak, concrete, and brass forms a serene backdrop for bold artwork and colorful design objects.
Each level offers a unique spatial character:
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Ground floor: A multifunctional space with direct street access and art display walls.
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Middle level: The main living and dining area, opening to westward views of Twin Peaks and the westerly San Francisco sky.
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Upper level: Private quarters with panoramic city vistas and diffused light filtered through skylights.
Together, these levels form a narrative of ascent and illumination, both literally and metaphorically—a journey from shadow to light, echoing the project’s symbolic rebirth.
A Collaboration Between Architecture & Life
Silver Lining House embodies a collaboration between architect, designer, and occupants—all creators in their own right. The project demonstrates how contemporary architecture can reinterpret history, turning loss into inspiration. The resulting home is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the power of design to find beauty in renewal.
Silver Lining House by Mork-Ulnes Architects is both a rebuilt legacy and a design manifesto—a refined balance of memory, material, and modernity. From its cedar-clad façade that echoes Edwardian neighbors to its luminous interiors celebrating art and life, the home transforms a century-old narrative into one of rebirth and reinvention.
A true “silver lining”—this project exemplifies how architecture can emerge from adversity to create a work that is timeless, contextual, and deeply personal.
