Enlarging a Home on a Tight Lot

Berkeley, CA

Overview

Creative light-filled multilevel Bedroom/Bathroom home addition that offers more family space while maintaining privacy on a compact urban lot. This is a small property that now lives much larger.

Working Relationship throughout Design/Build Process

We felt fortunate to have worked with Maurice as we took the entire design build journey of our new addition and a kitchen remodel. We’d met with several architects/contractors beforehand but correctly felt we would have a working long-term relationship with Maurice. Furthermore, all of the designers, builders, and external contractors were easy to work with and we would not hesitate to recommend.

P. O. + C. C.

Berkeley, CA

Gallery

Process

Enlarging Home new hall + stairs in progress
Enlarging Home Window Wall in progress
Enlarging Home New Deck in progress
Enlarging Home New Gate

Completed Project

Enlarging Home Dining and Kitchen
Enlarging Home Kitchen Coffee + Baking Station
Enlarging Home Kitchen
Enlarging Home Hallway and Stairs
Enlarging Home Hallway and Stairs
Enlarging Home New Bathroom Shower
Enlarging Home New Bathroom Vanity

Project Details

Location: Berkeley, CA

Year Built: 2023

  • The Owners, who have a multigenerational household, needed more space for their family. Their existing home on a 3,500 SF lot was already closer to one property line than would generally be allowed under current standards.
    • Because of the addition, this project required an Administrative Use Permit (AUP) from the City.
  • The design solution includes three new Bedrooms, one of which connects to a new deck, and a Bathroom via a split-level addition at the back of the home that steps down to a single story addition.
    • The new Bathroom has features like two sinks and a separate toilet compartment that allow multiple people to use it simultaneously if needed. The shower also has a bench for family members of all ages.
  • Transoms (windows above doors) and clerestories (windows at the tops of walls) flood the home with natural light while maintaining privacy.
  • We also remodeled the Kitchen, which features much more storage in the form of Walnut wood cabinets built by Levitch.

 

Photography by Treve Johnson