2021 Builder Awards: Residential Build by FORMA Construction

Author:Lindsey Shook

From varying weather conditions to soaring hills, building in San Francisco can present many challenges. When FORMA Construction began a modern transformation of a Marina-style home built in 1931, innovative engineering and precision were the guiding components. “The home was brought down to studs and rebuilt by lifting it on cribbing and replacing the foundation,” says Victor Mezhvinsky of FORMA. “Through geo-grouting the soil and a thick mat slab, we were able to create the support to go up a level with a deck on top.”

Designed by architect Spiegel Aihara Workshop (SAW) and interior designer Heidi Kim of White Space Design, the home effortlessly floats upward from an extended backyard through a series of terraces, shifting across four levels of vantage points that further connect the homeowners to the landscape and vast views. “We wanted to build a house where we could host family and friends for Thanksgiving dinners, yoga classes, birthday parties and
Fleet Week parties,” says homeowner Vanessa Loy. Over 1,800 square feet was added to accommodate the busy family of five, who desired cozy yet cool spaces for entertaining.

One of the most notable features in the home are the flawlessly arched doorways and the smooth spiral staircase. “Drawing from the prevalence of arched doorways, we aggregated curved figures, manipulated them into the plan, disassembled them, and extruded them into a section around the central sculptural stair at the heart of the house,” says Dan Spiegel. “The sculptural stair is a feature of the home. SAW conceptually designed the space, and FORMA was able to help engineer it into its current form as a cantilevered helical stair.”

Now with the perfect amount of outdoor space for the kids and interiors that demonstrate FORMA’s skilled level of craftsmanship, the family has been able to entertain safely while falling deeply in love with their home. “The couple could not be more pleased; they are thrilled with the result,” says Mezhvinsky. “They even wanted to be part of the photoshoot to showcase how the family enjoys the space.”